The letter was directed to the attention of Professor Alissa Trotz, Director of the Women and Gender Studies Institute, CASSA, and the University of Toronto's administration as the host venue.
Subject: Urgent Concerns Regarding Statements Made by Dr. Waffa Hassan at CASSA’s Social Justice Summit
Dear Professor Trotz, Director of the Women & Gender Studies Institute of the University of Toronto (UofT),
I am writing anonymously due to concerns about potential repercussions, particularly as Dr. Hassan has a history of labeling critics of her conduct as engaging in anti-Palestinian racism. However, I feel compelled to bring to your attention statements she made that warrant serious review.
Dr. Hassan was a speaker at the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA) 3rd Annual Social Justice Summit, held on February 24, 2025, at Centennial College and virtually. During her talk, she made several false and troubling claims targeting White women, Jews, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), and UofT. The most concerning statements, transcribed automatically (which may contain minor inaccuracies), include:
1) Spreading a modernized antisemitic trope:
Dr. Hassan stated: “I've shared this story at a different talk for CCMW [Canadian Council of Muslim Women]. White women, some of them Jewish, have actually tried to implement the IHRA definition of antisemitism into the child abuse policy at the Toronto District School Board. Which would mean what? That if my child, if children criticize the state of Israel, we could have Child Protective Services called on us.”
2) Accusing UofT of bias and financial manipulation:
Dr. Hassan echoed claims made by the moderator, alleging that UofT is “heavily funded by Jewish Zionist people.” She further stated: “Since October 7th, there's like three new positions on Israeli studies. And it's all privately funded by the Tenenbaum family, which owns that WNBA and stuff like that.” She also accused UofT of “profiting from our liberation movements,” claiming: “They get Muslim rich donors to give to the Palestine program at U of T” even though “the program is run by a Jewish man.” Additionally, she remarked: “Black faces in high places aren't going to save us. Not anymore. I'm seeing it at UofT.”
Most disturbingly, Dr. Hassan repeatedly made remarks such as: “I don't want to say too much because I think the talk is also being recorded, there could be defamation stuff.” This raises serious concerns about what she might say in an unrecorded setting, including in her role as an educator at the Women & Gender Studies Institute.
In 2016, the University took a clear stance on faculty speech impacting students and the academic environment in its response to Dr. Jordan Peterson’s statements on gender identity. Given this precedent, I urge you to review Dr. Hassan’s remarks with the same level of scrutiny.
I am reporting these statements in the hope that they will be reviewed. I request that you obtain the full recording of Dr. Hassan’s talk for further assessment.
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