Pro-Palestinian activists charged with criminally harassing Immigration Minister Marc Miller

Three pro-Palestinian activists have been arrested and charged with criminal harassment of Marc Miller, a Montreal MP and federal immigration minister. The arrests have sparked a protest at the Montreal courthouse, where demonstrators condemned the charges as an infringement on freedom of expression.

One of the activists, Samar Alkhdour, has been actively protesting since March to criticize Israel's retaliatory actions in Gaza and Canada’s perceived lack of response to the rising death toll. Many of these protests have taken place outside Miller's constituency office, including the one that led to her arrest.

According to Alkhdour's lawyer, Barbara Bedont, the charges stem from a demonstration last Thursday outside the Liberal campaign office, where Miller was nearby. After the protest, as Alkhdour was packing up her belongings, Miller arrived in a vehicle. Bedont said Alkhdour approached the vehicle and expressed her disapproval of his policies.

"They said things like 'shame on you' and 'you're a child killer' — purely political speech," Bedont explained, emphasizing that the interaction lasted only about five seconds, with Alkhdour standing roughly a meter from the vehicle, and the other two protesters standing even further back. Miller remained in the vehicle before it drove away.

"There was no violence, no threats, just a peaceful expression of political views," Bedont added.

In addition to the criminal harassment charges, the three activists were also charged with mischief. They were released on bail with conditions. Meanwhile, supporters of the activists gathered inside and outside the courthouse, waving Palestinian flags in solidarity.

A spokesperson for Miller's office declined to comment on the arrests. Court documents also mention two other alleged victims in the case.

Alkhdour’s protests were triggered by a personal tragedy. Her 13-year-old daughter, Jana Elkahlout, who had cerebral palsy, died after receiving approval to leave Gaza for Canada. However, by the time the permission came through in January, Jana had already passed away from malnutrition due to a lack of access to the specialized food her condition required.

Alkhdour has been advocating for the federal government to simplify its temporary visa process for Gazans with relatives in Canada. By June, only a few Gazans had managed to come to Canada through the program.

Despite her grief, Alkhdour remains determined. "I don’t want them to think anything can stop me," she said during an April protest. "I’ve lost a dear child, and I don’t want that to happen again to my sister or other family members."