Tag Archives: Death threats

Long Arm of Israel Inflicts Threats, Hacking & RCMP Investigation on Canadian Journalist

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Israel’s defenders want me jailedBy The Maple Staff • 19 Jul 2025View in browser 
 This isn’t a typical email. It’s an update on what’s happening behind the scenes at The Maple. Below, opinion editor Davide Mastracci shares how he found himself investigated by the RCMP, simply for doing journalism.

A couple months ago, we revealed that The Maple had been the target of a campaign to take us offline. Today, I can tell you the campaign has escalated, with critics wanting me in prison. In February, I published Find IDF Soldiers — a database of Canadians who have joined the Israeli military, based entirely on public information. With a list of 163 current and former IDF soldiers, it’s the largest in Canada, and offers rare insight into this group.Israel’s supporters have tried everything to get the site taken down, including hacking, suspension demands, discussing lawsuits, email campaigns, a multi-country media assault and death threats.

 I recently learned something even more troubling: the RCMP investigated me.Documents I obtained show that someone complained to the RCMP about the project and called for me to be charged. The RCMP received the bogus complaint, screened it and rather than deciding to end things there, chose to investigate.They assigned an analyst to the complaint, who then ran my name through law enforcement databases, searched for information about me online and compiled a report.Unsurprisingly, the RCMP concluded I wasn’t a threat to “national security,” and that my journalism didn’t break any laws. 

But the damage was done. My name is now in a police database used by at least 25 law enforcement agencies across Canada.Experts say this could follow me for years, and that it sends a message to other journalists: reporting on the wrong topic may land you in a police database. It’s chilling.Most journalists would stop here.I’m not one of them. I’ve spent years writing about Palestine. If threats and intimidation tactics were going to stop me, it would’ve happened a long time ago.And thankfully, I work at a publication that isn’t vulnerable to pressure the way most outlets are.

The Maple doesn’t depend on funding from advertisers, grants or major donors that can be scared off. That makes us hard to intimidate — but only if we have readers backing us.If we’re going to keep publishing this sort of work, we need to be able to withstand the tough moments that defang other publications. If we have you on our side, we can.If you believe in what we’re doing — fearless, independent journalism that can’t be bullied — then consider becoming a Maple member. Every membership is a lifeline. And if we’re going to keep publishing, we need more of them.

Because, the thing is, the threat isn’t over. I’m waiting on very overdue ATIP requests from CSIS, Ontario’s Solicitor General and Toronto Police. I don’t know what they’ll return, but I’m increasingly confident these agencies and departments looked into me because of complaints from powerful Israel supporters about my journalism.If that ends up being the case, we may have to finally hire a criminal lawyer. They’ve been willing to help me pro bono so far, but that can’t last forever.And if we want to keep publishing, we need to be ready — not scrambling after the fact.Your support doesn’t just help us do the journalism we want to — it helps protect it, and protect us. It ensures I can move forward with this work without being afraid. It makes me feel confident that you’ll have my back should anything happen.If you believe in independent journalism that won’t cower — even when it’s under attack — I hope you’ll support it. Already a member? Thank you. Your support has kept us alive, and I hope you’ll stay with us. If you’re in a place to do more, you can also make a one-time donation here.— Davide Mastracci
Opinion editor, The Maple

Ex-Political Prisoner Brad Love Faces Death Threats; RCMP Do Nothing  

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Ex-Political Prisoner Brad Love Faces Death Threats; RCMP Do Nothing               

This has not been an easy summer for political prisoner Brad Love. Even before the Fort McMurray man was released from prison on July 31, he received bad news. He was informed by the prison authorities that his car had been stolen. A former resident of the house he shares with several others, returned, broke into Brad’s room and stole his car keys and made off with his car.
               When he was released, the authorities made no effort to provide transportation from the Peace River across the province to his Fort McMurray home. Fortunately, a friend travelled to the prison and gave him a ride. On reaching Fort McMurray, he learned more bad news. The police reported that his car had been found, but it had been totally trashed. Mr. Love was not even allowed to examine HIS OWN property in the pound by the the local RCMP until he paid a fee for storage. He has still not paid and has yet to see his car.
             More bad news awaited Brad when he tried to access his bank account. The car thief had made off with Brad’s cheque book and written cheques for over $10,000 — until the account was emptied. Brad castigated the bank’s sloppy security. He seldom writes cheques and the signature bore no resemblance to Brad’s. The bank will eventually reimburse Brad as cashing this raft of cheques was their fault but they are taking their time.
            And the car thief, forger? You would think even Inspector Clouseau could solve this case, The RCMP know his name, they have copious evidence of his thefts and forgeries. Yet, they tell Mr. Love nothing! He calls the RCMP frequently. They don’t return calls.
          On August 20, a late model car with four men pulled up and confronted Mr. Love at his front door. “We’re going to fucking kill you, Love,” they threatened. Mr. Love describes them as shady truck pusher types. He got their licence plate number. A few minutes later, another car appeared. It stopped and its scruffy looking occupants repeated the same threat: “We’re going to fucking kill you, Love.”
           Brad immediately called the police on 911. It took 90 minutes for the Mounties to answer this “emergency call.” Their only excuse was: “We were waiting for backup.” The Mounties explained that the threats were, well, not really actionable threats. Mr. Love could only remember the numerous times and a phone call with persistent questioning of an MPP or newspaper editor resulted in a quick visit from the RCMP and, sometimes, charges of harassment.
        Three weeks have passed. No action has been taken by the RCMP against those who made threats whose licence number and address Mr. Love has provided. And, of course, they don’t return phone calls. “Those were death threats. Who’s going to protect me?” a frustrated Brad Love asks.