*This story has been updated with a response from Susan Kim.
Calls are mounting for a City of Victoria council member to resign after her name appeared on a controversial open letter that questions if there was sexual violence committed by Hamas as part of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.
But Coun. Susan Kim says she is not resigning.
Kimsa国际传媒檚 name appears on the letter, which included the line the sa国际传媒渦nverified accusation that Palestinians were guilty of sexual violencesa国际传媒� as part of the Oct. 7 attacks that saw some victims tortured before they were killed. Since this story was first published, the letter has now been heavily edited to remove the statement and the names of those who signed it.
The only other Canadian politiciansa国际传媒檚 name listed on the letter before it was removed was Ontario MPP Sarah Jama, who was kicked out of the Ontario NDP and censured in the Ontario legislation for previous statements related to the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks.
On Monday, B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs Anne Kang called on Kim to sa国际传媒渁pologize immediatelysa国际传媒� but stopped short of asking her to resign.
sa国际传媒淚 believe in survivors,sa国际传媒� Kang said. sa国际传媒淚 believe in their first-hand accounts and it is absolutely wrong to deny that these accounts happened.sa国际传媒�
Kim issued a statement Monday night, saying she regrets sa国际传媒渉ow this matter has polarized our community. This was never my intent.
sa国际传媒淚 believe survivors of gender-based violence,sa国际传媒� Kim said. sa国际传媒淚 will always believe survivors of sexual assault. The use of sexual violence in war is undeniably among the worst faces of human history. My condemnation of all sexual violence is perpetual and unconditional.sa国际传媒�
Kim also said that a ceasefire is necessary.
sa国际传媒淰enturing forward, I commit to being more attentive to community before adopting positions while I am a city councillor,sa国际传媒� Kim said. sa国际传媒淎ggravation and polarization of this beloved community is never my intention. My primary duty is to serve the city and its residents; I am sorry for how this matter has pulled me away from the work of this city.sa国际传媒�
The revelation prompted an online petition asking for Victoria council to censure Kim and remove her from any board positions.
sa国际传媒淚magine being a Jewish member of our community and having to rely on Ms. Kim as an elected representative,sa国际传媒� says the petition, which has more than 8,300 signatures as of Monday (Nov. 20) morning. sa国际传媒淲ould you feel as though shesa国际传媒檇 represent your interest, equally to the interests of others in our community? Would you be able to trust Ms. Kim?sa国际传媒�
The City of Victoria published a statement Monday on behalf of Mayor Marianne Alto, but it only mentioned the conflict in general terms and did not mention Kim or the controversy directly.
Ian Ward, a councillor for the City of Colwood, sits on the library board with Kim, but is considering quitting in protest of Kim signing the letter. Ward is also putting forward a motion to have Kim censured from the library board.
Ward said in a letter to Black Press Media that the letter Kim signed was an sa国际传媒渁mplificaton of hate.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淭his is the worst kind of victim-blaming, and to have it come from an elected official abusing her platform in this way is unconscionable,sa国际传媒� Ward said in his letter.
Others are stepping forward to call for Kimsa国际传媒檚 resignation, including Kevin Falcon, leader of BC United.
sa国际传媒淒enying the sexual violence experienced by victims of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas is appalling,sa国际传媒� Falcon posted on X (formerly Twitter). sa国际传媒淭his is unacceptable behaviour from an elected official here in B.C. Coun. Kim should resign & David Eby needs to join me in calling on her to step down.sa国际传媒�
The conflict began on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis in surprise attacks, taking another 240 people hostage.
Israel declared war on Hamas, began an airstrike campaign and cut off food, fuel, water and supplies to Gaza, which is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. The territorysa国际传媒檚 health officials say more than 11,500 people have been killed so far, two-thirds of them women and children, and another 2,700 people are reported missing.
- With files from the Canadian Press
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