A judge has sentenced a man who scrawled anti-Muslim graffiti at bus stops in Durham Region to five months in jail.
The man, Joseph Porto, scrawled “no more Muslims”; this can be interpreted in the worst possible manner, as genocidal and hence reprehensible; but it could also be interpreted as a statement regarding immigration restrictions. He stated that he felt people were “taking advantage of living in this country.”
Judge Justice Ferhan Javed stated that “Mr. Porco’s message was both hateful and hurtful to the community and needs to be deterred.”
Did the punishment fit the crime? Why are Islamic hate preachers who explicitly call for the murder of Jews not being jailed? Ditto for those who incite violence against Zionists and Jews during al Quds day rallies.
Back in February, a hate crimes complaint was “filed with Toronto police against a downtown mosque whose imam allegedly called for killing Jews.” The Masjid Toronto is affiliated with the Muslim Association of Canada — an organization inspired by Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna.
What action has been taken on that complaint?
“Oshawa man jailed five months for anti-Muslim graffiti at bus stops”, by Jeff Mitchell, Durham Region News, September 21, 2017:
OSHAWA — A judge has sentenced a man who scrawled anti-Muslim graffiti at bus stops in Durham Region to five months in jail.
Joseph Porco shows little insight into the harmful nature of his conduct, Ontario Court Justice Ferhan Javed said in handing down the sentence Thursday, Sept. 21.
“Mr. Porco’s message left black marks on a public bench but even after the words are scrubbed away with a guilty plea, it leaves stains that may be more permanent,” the judge said. “Mr. Porco’s message was both hateful and hurtful to the community and needs to be deterred.”
Porco, 56, of Oshawa, pleaded guilty to a single count of mischief. He was arrested after Durham police began investigating more than a dozen incidents of someone scrawling “No More Muslims” in February and March of this year on Durham Region Transit bus shelters in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa.
Porco was caught “red-handed” by police conducting surveillance on a bus shelter, court heard. He was charged with multiple counts of mischief, but no hate crimes.
After his arrest, Porco told police he felt people were “taking advantage of living in this country,” court heard.
Porco’s defence lawyer, Paul Affleck, had lobbied for a term of house arrest…..