Hassan Husseini
Encyclopedia
Hassan Husseini was a politician
and political activist in Ontario
, Canada
. He was a prominent member of the Communist Party of Canada - Ontario
, and led the party in the 1999 provincial election
. He left the CPC in 2003.
Originally from Lebanon
, Husseini moved to Canada at a young age. He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in History and Political Science from the University of Ottawa
in the early 1990s, and became an organizer for the Communist Party in the same period. He was also active in the student, anti-racism, peace and labour movements. Husseini was vice-president and organizer for the Ottawa-Carleton Canadian Union of Public Employees
Local 4600 District Council, and coordinated Ottawa's annual Walk for Peace, the Environment and Social Justice.
In November 1998, Husseini was selected as Ontario party leader and international affairs spokesperson at the CPC's 21st Convention. He attracted controversy by defending the FARC
rebels of Colombia
in a 1998 interview.http://google.com/search?q=cache:bBpaBkZ01vQJ:www.nowtoronto.com/issues/18/19/News/feature2.html+%22Hassan+Husseini%22&hl=en
The CPC-O ran only four candidates in the 1999 election. Husseini, running to the Toronto riding of York South—Weston
, received 260 votes.
In late 2000, Husseini was arrested in downtown Toronto and charged with "participating in a riot" and "assault with weapon". These charges resulted from Husseini's participation in a June 15, 2000 protest at the Ontario legislature, which was organized by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
.
The leadership of the CPC-O described Husseini's arrest as "completely unjustified" and the charges as "groundless". Communist Party of Canada
leader Miguel Figueroa
described the arrest as "symptomatic of a growing assault on democratic rights in Toronto and across Canada".
Husseini was thirty-three years old at the time of the arrest. The case does not appear to have gone to trial.
Husseini appears to have stepped down as CPC-O leader in 2001, and was replaced by Elizabeth Rowley
. He has participated in several anti-war and anti-racism rallies in recent years, and has argued in favour of Palestinian
self-determination.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and political activist in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was a prominent member of the Communist Party of Canada - Ontario
Communist Party of Ontario
The Communist Party of Canada is the Ontario, Canada provincial wing of the Communist Party of Canada. In the 1940s and 1950s under the name Labour-Progressive Party, the group won two seats in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario: A.A. MacLeod and J.B...
, and led the party in the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
. He left the CPC in 2003.
Originally from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Husseini moved to Canada at a young age. He received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in History and Political Science from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
in the early 1990s, and became an organizer for the Communist Party in the same period. He was also active in the student, anti-racism, peace and labour movements. Husseini was vice-president and organizer for the Ottawa-Carleton Canadian Union of Public Employees
Canadian Union of Public Employees
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is a Canadian trade union serving the public sector - although it has in recent years organized workplaces in the non-profit and para-public sector as well...
Local 4600 District Council, and coordinated Ottawa's annual Walk for Peace, the Environment and Social Justice.
In November 1998, Husseini was selected as Ontario party leader and international affairs spokesperson at the CPC's 21st Convention. He attracted controversy by defending the FARC
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
rebels of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
in a 1998 interview.http://google.com/search?q=cache:bBpaBkZ01vQJ:www.nowtoronto.com/issues/18/19/News/feature2.html+%22Hassan+Husseini%22&hl=en
The CPC-O ran only four candidates in the 1999 election. Husseini, running to the Toronto riding of York South—Weston
York South—Weston
York South—Weston is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979.-Electoral district:It is in the west-end of Toronto. The riding has a largely working class and immigrant population...
, received 260 votes.
In late 2000, Husseini was arrested in downtown Toronto and charged with "participating in a riot" and "assault with weapon". These charges resulted from Husseini's participation in a June 15, 2000 protest at the Ontario legislature, which was organized by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty is an anti-poverty group in Ontario, Canada, who promote the interests of the poor and homeless...
.
The leadership of the CPC-O described Husseini's arrest as "completely unjustified" and the charges as "groundless". Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
leader Miguel Figueroa
Miguel Figueroa
Miguel Figueroa has been the leader of the Communist Party of Canada since 1992.- Early political career :Figueroa was born in Montreal, and has been a member of the CPC since 1977. He has held many positions within the CPC, including party organizer in Vancouver from 1978 to 1985, and leader of...
described the arrest as "symptomatic of a growing assault on democratic rights in Toronto and across Canada".
Husseini was thirty-three years old at the time of the arrest. The case does not appear to have gone to trial.
Husseini appears to have stepped down as CPC-O leader in 2001, and was replaced by Elizabeth Rowley
Elizabeth Rowley
Elizabeth Rowley is a politician, writer, and political activist in Ontario, Canada. Current leader of the Communist Party of Ontario, and a leading member of the Communist Party of Canada, Rowley has campaigned for office many times at both the municipal, federal and provincial levels.-Political...
. He has participated in several anti-war and anti-racism rallies in recent years, and has argued in favour of Palestinian
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
self-determination.
Electoral Record
- Canadian federal election, 1997Canadian federal election, 1997The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
, York South—WestonYork South—WestonYork South—Weston is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979.-Electoral district:It is in the west-end of Toronto. The riding has a largely working class and immigrant population...
, 98 votes (winner: John NunziataJohn NunziataJohn Nunziata is a Canadian politician. He served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1984 to 2000, initially as a Liberal and later as an independent member.-Background:...
, Independent) [Note: Husseini appeared on the ballot as an independent in this election, as the Communist Party of Canada was not officially registered.] - Ontario general election, 1999Ontario general election, 1999An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, York South—WestonYork South—WestonYork South—Weston is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979.-Electoral district:It is in the west-end of Toronto. The riding has a largely working class and immigrant population...
, 261 votes (winner: Joseph CordianoJoseph CordianoJoseph Cordiano is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was formerly a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and a cabinet minister in the government of Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty.-Early life:...
, LiberalOntario Liberal PartyThe Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
) - Canadian federal election, 2000Canadian federal election, 2000The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
, York South—WestonYork South—WestonYork South—Weston is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979.-Electoral district:It is in the west-end of Toronto. The riding has a largely working class and immigrant population...
, 130 votes (winner: Alan TonksAlan TonksAlan Tonks is a Canadian politician. He was the Liberal MP for the federal electoral district of York South—Weston in Toronto from 2000 to 2011, and was the final Metro Toronto Chairman before the amalgamation of Metro Toronto into the new City of Toronto.-Background:Tonks is the son of the late...
, LiberalLiberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
)