The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has come under fire for allegedly promoting hate speech in a training session for its officers. The session, which took place in 2019, featured controversial speaker Adil Charkaoui, who has been accused of promoting extremist views.
According to documents obtained by CBC News, the RCMP paid Charkaoui $5000 to speak at the training session, which was attended by approximately 100 officers. Charkaoui, a former terrorism suspect, has been a vocal critic of Canada’s security and intelligence agencies.
The training session, titled “Radicalization to Violent Extremism,” was meant to educate officers on identifying and preventing radicalization. However, critics argue that Charkaoui’s presence at the session was inappropriate and potentially harmful.
In a statement to CBC News, the RCMP acknowledged that Charkaoui’s views are controversial and that his presence at the training session was a mistake. The statement also emphasized that the RCMP does not support hate speech in any form.
The controversy surrounding Charkaoui’s involvement in the training session has sparked calls for an investigation into the RCMP’s hiring practices and training methods. Some have also called for Charkaoui to be banned from speaking at any future RCMP events.
This is not the first time the RCMP has faced criticism for its handling of hate speech. In 2017, the force was accused of promoting Islamophobia by hosting a training session featuring controversial speaker Ryan Mauro.
The RCMP has a responsibility to uphold the values of diversity and inclusion, and any association with individuals who promote hate speech goes against these values. It is crucial for the force to thoroughly vet speakers and training materials to ensure they align with these values.
In response to the backlash, the RCMP has stated that it will review its policies and procedures for selecting speakers and training materials. The force has also committed to providing additional training for its officers on diversity and inclusion.
The controversy surrounding Charkaoui’s involvement in the RCMP training session highlights the importance of addressing hate speech and promoting inclusivity in law enforcement. It is imperative for the RCMP to take swift and decisive action to rectify this situation and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
