According to MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) on December 18, 2023, Sick Kids Hospital Interfaith Chaplain Ayman Al Taher, spoke at Palestine House in Toronto. In a video posted to his YouTube page (41:09) Imam Ayman Al Taher encouraged the audience (and their children) to listen to a 1998 interview from the founder of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, in which Ahmed Yassin predicted that “by 2027 Israel will not exist”.
Along with this outrageous suggestion of listening to the original leader of a terrorist organization, Ayman Al Taher went further claiming that Allah gave Sheikh Ahmed Yassin an “Honourable Martyrdom”, saying “And as we know how Allah has honoured him…Four rockets – I’m not sure how many millions each rocket cost – to give him an honourable martyrdom”.
Watch video below:
At the end of the video, Ayman Al Taher said: “I know I am going to get myself in trouble now for speaking on social media. Who cares, because if (we) do not get ourselves into trouble, we will not be getting victory”.
Just as HonestReporting Canada (HRC) exposed Dr. Christian Zaarour from Sick Kids for his, in our view, hateful words, we believe that these repugnant statements by Ayman Al Taher also breach Sick Kids Code of Conduct.
As Sick Kids official interfaith chaplain, Ayman Al Taher has a duty and obligation to serve the spiritual needs of people from all faiths. However, these statements by Ayman Al Taher raise serious questions about his credibility & commitment to providing equal care for all.
HonestReporting Canada filed a complaint with Sick Kids Hospital asking for an immediate investigation into these comments made by its interfaith chaplain and Sick Kids Hospital has now released a full statement, which reads:
“Concerns about comments made by a member of the Spiritual & Religious Care Department at SickKids related to the war in Israel and Gaza and shared on social media have been brought to our attention. We of course take this extremely seriously and are investigating as per SickKids’ Code of Conduct. The individual is on a paid leave while we investigate. For confidentiality reasons we are unable to share any additional information.
All who come to SickKids are entitled to be treated with respect, professionalism and feel safe.”
We thank Sick Kids Hospital for their quick response, and commitment to investigate these comments.
Stay tuned to this page for updates.
