Victoria Man Charged with Hate Crime for Antisemitic Remarks at Legislature Protest

Khalid El Boyok, a 28-year-old man from Victoria, has been charged with public incitement of hatred following an investigation into antisemitic remarks he allegedly made at a demonstration on the lawn of the B.C. Legislature on March 17, 2024. The charge was approved by the B.C. Prosecution Service, and El Boyok was arrested on June 11. Victoria Police emphasized the seriousness and complexity of hate-motivated offences, stating their role is to police behaviors rather than beliefs, and noted these cases often require thorough investigations and sometimes Attorney General consent. Although "hate crime" is not a specific offence in the Canadian Criminal Code, the term generally refers to offences motivated by hate or related to hate propaganda, including advocating genocide and public incitement of hatred. Police encourage victims of hate incidents or crimes to report them, underscoring their commitment to supporting all victims of hate. The matter is now before the courts, and further details have not been released.