Birju Dattani, the newly appointed commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, has resigned before officially starting his role, following a wave of controversy over past statements and online activities that were criticized as antisemitic by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).
Dattani, who was scheduled to begin his role last week, opted to step down after a federal investigation revealed discrepancies in his background check, including the omission of a second name, “Mujahid Dattani,” used in some of his past public engagements. The investigation, led by the firm Filion Wakely Angeletti LLP, found no direct evidence of antisemitism but highlighted concerns about Dattani’s transparency regarding his previous academic work critical of Israel.
Justice Minister Arif Virani accepted Dattani’s resignation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public confidence in the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The search for a new commissioner will begin promptly, with Charlotte-Anne Malischewski continuing as interim commissioner.
Dattani’s resignation has drawn reactions from various quarters. While Jewish advocacy groups like CIJA and B’nai Brith Canada welcomed the move, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) criticized the process as a politically motivated “witch-hunt” against a racialized minority.
Dattani defended his actions in a LinkedIn post, expressing continued belief in the commission’s work despite stepping down. The controversy has sparked calls for a review of the hiring process to prevent similar issues in the future.
