MONTREAL, QC — Prominent author and anti-war activist Yves Engler is set to stand trial on November 28, 2025, over a charge that stems from his public denunciation of his politically motivated arrest on baseless harassment charges that have since been dismissed by prosecutors.
Earlier this week, the Crown withdrew charges against Engler related to his public criticisms of Dalia Kurtz, a viral Zionist influencer from Ontario known for her openly racist commentary that often targets Palestinian children. The original accusation — that Engler had harassed Kurtz by responding to her hateful tweets — was dropped without going to trial. However, in a startling twist, Engler is now set to face trial for encouraging supporters to email the Montreal police a form letter the day before his scheduled arrest asking them to drop the initial charges.
“The prosecution dropped the original charges, then turned around and charged me for saying they should be dropped,” said Engler. “It’s a surreal and disturbing attack on democratic expression.”
Jailed Over a Letter-Writing Campaign
Engler’s arrest and detention have sparked outrage among civil liberties advocates, who say the idea of jailing someone for a peaceful email campaign is both disproportionate and dangerous.
At the heart of the remaining charge is Engler’s call for the public to email a publicly listed Montreal police address, urging them to drop the original charges related to his criticism of Kurtz. Those charges were ultimately dropped. There were no threats, no private contact, and no incitement to violence — just a political appeal for accountability.
“To imprison someone over a letter-writing campaign is a direct attack on the democratic process,” said Engler. “If urging others to contact a public institution is considered a crime, then protest itself is criminalized.”
His lawyer, John Philpot, echoed the concern, warning that the case sets a dangerous precedent that could be used to target political dissent more broadly.
“We live in a society where people have the right to contact their government, police, and public officials,” said Philpot. “If this kind of non-violent political communication is criminalized, it undermines the basic freedoms of speech and association.”
Prosecutors Attempted to Impose Unconstitutional Bail Conditions
Much of Engler’s five-day, four-night detention stemmed not from the charge itself, but from his refusal to sign a gag order that would have barred him from speaking publicly about the case — a condition that violates a binding Quebec Court of Appeal judgment.
“He was detained for defending his constitutional rights,” said Philpot. “The Crown and police should have known this condition was unlawful.”
Philpot confirmed that the remaining charge concerns the alleged “harassment or interference” with police operations — all for publicly calling on the public to email a police contact about a now-abandoned case.
“This is not how justice is supposed to work,” said Philpot. “We’re talking about someone being prosecuted for publicly disagreeing with being charged.”
Political Pressure Behind the Charges?
Philpot also raised serious concerns about the involvement of Conservative Party candidate Neil Oberman, who lobbied the Crown to authorize the original charges in late 2024 after prosecutors had declined to proceed. Oberman’s intervention appears to have directly influenced the decision to pursue Engler’s arrest.
“This level of political interference in prosecutorial decisions is deeply problematic,” said Philpot. “It suggests these charges were driven by ideology, not law.”
Senate Complaint Against Senator Woo Dismissed as Baseless
In an apparent extension of the effort to criminalize criticism of Israel, Dahlia Kurtz filed an ethics complaint against Senator Yuen Pau Woo in early 2025, accusing him of “inciting hate, aggression, and violence” for defending Yves Engler’s right to free expression.
The complaint stemmed from a series of posts in which Senator Woo criticized the charges brought against Engler, writing on X:
“I support the right of @EnglerYves to voice outrage over genocide in Gaza and to call out those who aid and abet crimes against humanity. The @rcmpgrcpolice must explain fully the grounds on which charges are being laid and how these actions do not violate freedom of expression.”
Kurtz, a self-described victim in the ongoing legal proceedings, accused Woo of interfering in a judicial process. However, the Senate Ethics Officer dismissed the complaint as baseless, affirming that Senator Woo’s statements fell well within the bounds of democratic debate and parliamentary privilege.
The attempt to sanction a sitting senator for defending civil liberties and opposing genocide was widely viewed by observers as an overreach, and part of a broader pattern of weaponizing institutional processes to silence dissenting voices on Canadian foreign policy.
Who Is Yves Engler?
Engler is a long-standing critic of Canadian foreign policy, particularly its military alignment with NATO and its support for Israel. His writing and activism have focused on the complicity of Canadian institutions in overseas war crimes, including in Gaza. He has been referred to as the « Noam Chomsky of Canada ».
Engler has also drawn attention to Canadians joining foreign militaries — particularly the Israeli army — in potential violation of the Foreign Enlistment Act. Over the years, he has organized dozens of email campaigns directed at institutions including the RCMP, political parties, school boards, and government ministries — none of which have ever resulted in criminal charges.
“This is not harassment. This is public advocacy,” said Engler. “If emailing a police department is now a crime, what does that say about free speech in Canada?”
Philpot declined to speculate on whether the remaining charge would be dropped before trial, but emphasized that the case deserves national attention.
“These are not just legal questions — they’re political ones,” Philpot said. “The public needs to ask: Who gets charged in Canada, and why?”
NDP Leadership Bid
The trial comes as Engler campaigns for the leadership of the New Democratic Party (NDP).
His platform includes:
- Ending Canadian complicity in the genocide in Gaza
- Prosecuting war criminals under Canadian law
- Withdrawing from NATO and halting arms sales to repressive regimes
Engler’s campaign has gained traction among disillusioned Greens, anti-war organizers, and social justice advocates across the country.
Broad Left-Wing Support Emerges as Prominent Figures Defend Engler’s Right to Run
In a major boost to his leadership campaign, dozens of prominent left-wing voices have come out in defense of Yves Engler’s right to run for leader of the NDP, denouncing attempts by pro-Israel extremists to block his candidacy as undemocratic and politically dangerous.
A public letter addressed to interim NDP leader Don Davies and National Director Lucy Watson has been signed by a growing list of respected figures, including:
- Human rights advocate and former political prisoner Maher Arar
Musician Roger Waters - Author and journalist Linda McQuaig
- Former Ontario NDP MPP Sarah Jama
- Rabbi David Mivasair
- Lawyer and academic Faisal Kutty
- Activist Monia Mazigh
- Musician Jord Samolesky
- Tyler Levitan of Independent Jewish Voices
The signatories are calling on the NDP to reject pressure from hardline pro-Israel voices, including former Jewish Defence League head Meir Weinstein, Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley, and disgraced ex-BC cabinet minister Selena Robinson, who have all called for Engler to be disqualified from the race.
Weinstein, now leading the group “Israel Now,” threatened that the NDP should either drop Engler or “change their name from the NDP to the Nazi Party of Canada.” Robinson backed a call to ban Engler from the race entirely.
But the backlash from across the left has been swift and clear:
“Genocide advocates cannot be allowed to determine who NDP members are allowed to select for party leader,” the letter states. “Regardless of political differences, every party member should have the right to run — and every member the right to decide.”
While not all signatories endorse the NDP as a party, they are united in their message: Yves Engler must not be silenced, and party democracy must not be hijacked by those seeking to suppress criticism of Israel’s war crimes.
The strong public support marks a turning point in the campaign and signals that Engler’s platform—centered on peace, justice, and accountability—is resonating across Canada’s progressive and anti-war movements.
