Baselessly suggesting that Iranian sponsored terror is behind these recent incidents serves only as fuel for the rising Islamophobia in Canada, whose proponents use these conspiracies as a constant refrain to normalize and justify anti-Muslim hate.
To the CTV Two Windsor editorial newsroom,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to express our concern regarding a segment aired on Monday, July 27, 2026, at 11:15 p.m., reporting on two Jewish-owned bakeries in Toronto targeted by gunfire.
Specifically, we take issue with the inclusion of the following statement:
“It's a phenomenon the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs says is increasing because of terrorism and at times sponsored by the Republic of Iran.”
While CTV properly attributes this claim to CIJA, broadcasting this assertion in the context of an active, ongoing shooting investigation provides insufficient context and misleads viewers.
Indeed, intelligence reports from Canada (CSIS), the US, and the UK have raised concerns regarding alleged Iranian-linked plots against Jewish-Canadians; however, police have not established any connection between those cases and this recent shooting. Instead, police have emphasized that shooters of Jewish institutions in Toronto have been motivated by money.
Further, baselessly suggesting that Iranian sponsored terror is behind these recent incidents serves only as fuel for the rising Islamophobia in Canada, whose proponents use these conspiracies as a constant refrain to normalize and justify anti-Muslim hate.
As it stands, CTV’s frames unverified claims from CIJA, a pro-Israel advocacy organization, as context for an active police investigation. This fails to meet standards of journalistic accuracy and misleads the public.
To uphold expected standards of journalistic accuracy, I believe that CTV must issue a clarification. The segment should explicitly state that CIJA’s comments represent an unverified claim and that police have not identified any link to terrorism in this ongoing investigation.
I await your response,
--
Anthony Issa