Québec Solidaire Leader Targeted with Violent, Misogynistic Online Threats
A surge in online harassment, including threats of rape and murder, directed at Québec Solidaire (QS) parliamentary head Ruba Ghazal highlights the escalating dangers faced by women in politics and the challenges of moderating online discourse.
The disturbing details of the attacks were revealed by Ghazal herself in a recent video, coinciding with the “12 days of action against violence against women” campaign. Ghazal explained that the comments she shared represent only a fraction of the hateful messages she receives.
“What I read is not the worst of what I received,” Ghazal confided in an interview with her Parliamentary Office. The onslaught included explicit threats of rape and murder, alongside demands that she yield to male dominance. One individual attempted to intimidate Ghazal by claiming knowledge of her personal address, while another chillingly declared their intent to “decapitate” her.
The attacks also took on a deeply racist dimension, with the MP of Palestinian origin being labeled as “Islamic vermin” and told to return to the Gaza Strip. The severity of some messages is such that they cannot be published in a widely circulated daily newspaper.
Ghazal is actively working to combat the trivialization of this type of discourse, which she believes is becoming increasingly prevalent on social media platforms. She emphasized that such remarks would be unacceptable in any face-to-face interaction. While her team filters the most egregious comments, Ghazal expressed concern for women who lack that support.
“I have friends who are not in politics and who manage their social networks alone,” she said. “They start to censor themselves. And I understand them perfectly. They say to themselves: ‘I don’t want to bear all this hatred, all this burden.’”
Law enforcement has taken action in response to some of the threats. A man was arrested following reports of threatening rape, and others have received police warnings. However, authorities have dismissed numerous racist insults as they do not constitute direct threats. Ghazal stated she blocks those sending racist messages.
The situation has prompted Ghazal to take steps to manage the online environment. She has deactivated comments on her X (formerly Twitter) page, citing the platform’s increasingly unmanageable atmosphere since its acquisition by Elon Musk. Her colleague, Christine Labrie, closed her Facebook page last September due to similar issues. Ghazal, however, prefers to “clean up” the comments section on her Facebook page, allowing her to continue engaging with citizens while shielding them from the vitriol directed at her.
“I don’t block criticism,” Ghazal insisted. “On the contrary, I find it good, it leads to debates.”
This case underscores the growing challenges faced by public figures – particularly women – navigating the often-toxic landscape of online communication. It raises critical questions about the responsibility of social media platforms to protect their users and the limits of legal recourse in addressing online harassment.
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