In Conversation with Yves Engler, Montréal Author Who Was Arrested for "Political" Reasons

On February 20, 2025, author and activist Yves Engler turned himself in to the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) after being informed that he was being charged with harassment for tagging Dahlia Kurtz, a vocal Israel supporter, on social media. Engler later faced additional harassment charges for writing about the incident as it unfolded—not from Kurtz, but from the Montreal police themselves. The SPVM charged Engler with harassment simply for documenting his experience, sparking a massive wave of international support for him.

PEN Canada, an organization dedicated to defending free expression, sent an open letter to Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and SPVM Police Chief Fady Dagher, condemning Engler's arrest. The letter criticized the police for "arresting and charging journalists and writers for speaking out against Israel," stating that such actions constitute serious violations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Engler was held in jail for five days before being released. Speaking with him after his release, I could hear the welcome sounds of his children playing and dinner being prepared in the background. He recounted the timeline of his arrest, his previous interactions with Dahlia Kurtz, and the troubling involvement of a Conservative federal candidate who may have pressured the SPVM to move forward with the charges.

This incident echoes the SPVM's previous arrest and detention of former CUTV reporter Savanna Craig. When will the Montreal police stop targeting writers and journalists for expressing their views?

Tune in to our conversation to hear more on this developing story.