Canadian group slams removal of Palestinian keffiyeh at graduation

The National Council of Canadian Muslims on Tuesday condemned an incident at a Saskatoon high school graduation ceremony where a staff member appeared to forcibly remove a Palestinian keffiyeh from a graduating student, calling the act a manifestation of rising anti-Palestinian racism in Canadian educational institutions. The advocacy group shared footage of the incident at Centennial Collegiate on social media, stating that the apparent removal of the scarf reflected a broader pattern of discrimination.

“It has been extremely disturbing to witness the latest incident at Saskatoon's Centennial Collegiate, where a young graduate recently appeared to have had her Palestinian keffiyah scarf ripped off by a staff member during her graduation ceremony,” the NCCM said in a statement. The organization confirmed it is currently in contact with all parties involved in the incident.

‘Conflated with terrorism’

The council highlighted that references to Palestinian culture on university campuses and at graduation events have increasingly been treated as security threats rather than legitimate expressions of identity. “We have seen so much anti-Palestinian racism in recent years, particularly on campuses and inside graduation ceremonies such as these, where any reference to Palestinian culture or identity is conflated with ideas of terrorism and violence,” the group said.

School silence

Anadolu reached out to Centennial Collegiate for comment on Tuesday but did not receive a response, according to the agency's reporting. The NCCM added that “this is the hallmark of anti-Palestinian racism that must to (sic) addressed and held accountable throughout all institutions in Canada,” and noted that further statements would follow as the situation evolves.