Goldie Ghamari

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Goldie Ghamari
گلسا قمری
Goldie Ghamari (52525118091).jpg
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Carleton
In office
June 7, 2018 –January 28, 2025

On June 28, 2024, Ontario premier Doug Ford issued a statement that Ghamari had been removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus, citing "repeated serious lapses in judgement". [21] Ghamari had recently had a virtual meeting with Tommy Robinson, the founder and former leader of the far-right English Defence League, ostensibly to discuss the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. [21] Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has a history of convictions on a number of offences in the United Kingdom and, just days before the meeting with Ghamari, had been arrested in Calgary for misrepresenting himself to immigration officials while entering Canada for a speaking tour sponsored by right-wing media outlet Rebel News. [22]

After Ghamari posted on social media about their meeting, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) urged the Ford government to remove Ghamari from its caucus, reminding them of Robinson's record of anti-Muslim activism and criminal convictions. Ford's office initially said in a written statement that the premier was "extremely disappointed" in Ghamari's decision to give a platform to someone whose behaviour and beliefs were at odds with those of the government, and that her later denials "speaks volumes about her judgment and honesty". [23] [24] A more detailed statement from the premier's office described the move as the culmination of "repeated instances of serious lapses in judgment and a failure to collaborate constructively with caucus leadership and as a team member" and said that Ghamari could no longer continue in her role within the PC caucus. [25]

Personal life

Raised as a Shia Muslim, Ghamari has, since, converted to Zoroastrianism in her adult life. [26] [27]

Political positions and controversies

Climate change

In 2018, Ghamari stated at a debate in Ontario that while climate change is real, it is not human-caused. "I believe climate change is real. I don't believe climate change is man-made and I certainly don't believe that the people of Carleton are at fault for climate change," Ghamari stated. These comments contradict the scientific consensus on climate change. [28]

Comments about Islam

In November 2023, Ghamari came under controversy after the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC) and the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) alerted the Ontario cabinet about her social media postings. [29] Ghamari wrote on Twitter that the Muslim prayer "Allahu Akbar" was a safety concern and said that the hijab was a "symbol of the subjugation of women". [29] NCCM called her comments Islamophobic and urged Ford to remove her from caucus, saying her posts recycled "dangerous rhetoric" about Muslims and risked fuelling hatred. [29]

In October 2025, a short video posted by Ghamari on social media in which she warned Americans that Muslims praying in public were trying to "assert their religious dominance" and "turn [the] country into Sharia law" went viral and was widely criticised. Coverage of the incident in international media described the clip as fuelling an Islamophobic row and reigniting debate about anti-Muslim sentiment in Western politics. [30]

Foreign policy

Iran

A critic of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ghamari accused, in November 2023, the Ontario New Democratic Party MPP Joel Harden of being "a mouthpiece for the [...] Islamic Regime in Iran's [...] propaganda", as well as accusing MPP Sarah Jama of being a "terrorist sympathizer". [29] Her comments drew further criticism from CMPAC and NCCM, which argued that she was smearing political opponents and normalising the conflation of Muslim or pro-Palestinian advocacy with terrorism. [29]

Israel

Ghamari is a vociferous supporter of the State of Israel [29] and especially of the tenure of Benjamin Netanyahu since 2022. [31] While she is also a supporter of Reza Pahlavi, the last Crown Prince of Iran, others have criticised calls for the restoration of what they describe as a "highly controversial" royal family. [32]

Nigeria

From 2025, Ghamari began devoting a significant portion of her social media output to claims that Christians in Nigeria are the victims of a "jihad" and "Christian genocide". In posts on X and in short-form videos, she has asserted that Islamist militants and complicit officials are carrying out or enabling a genocide against Nigerian Christians and has accused the international community of indifference. [33]

After Nigerian foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar denied in an interview that there was a "Christian genocide" in the country, Ghamari publicly called him "a liar and a genocide denier" and claimed he was whitewashing purported atrocities. Notably, both Boko Haram and the Islamic State - West Africa Province (ISWAP) — the two main Islamist groups in (Northern) Nigeria — do not exclusively attack Christians, as Nigerian Muslims also bear the brunt of their violence, and the groups indiscriminately attack anyone who opposes their extreme ideology, regardless of faith. Subsequently, a report by Nigerian radio station Star FM 101.5 said she had "lampooned" Tuggar over his comments and corroborated her description as a far-right activist. [34]

Interactions with journalists

In September 2024, the Canadian Press Freedom Project reported that, after Toronto journalist Samira Mohyeddin criticised one of Ghamari's social media posts about Israel and Gaza, Ghamari responded on X by posting the name of a restaurant owned by Mohyeddin's family and writing that she was "looking forward" to visiting while wearing an Israel-themed hoodie. [35] Mohyeddin told the organisation that she found the post "threatening" and described it as an example of doxxing by a sitting MPP. [35] The Canadian Press Freedom Project classified Ghamari's post as a "chilling statement" toward a journalist. [35]

In the early hours of October 8, 2024, the restaurant's windows were smashed and the interior ransacked by an unknown assailant. Mohyeddin said she "cannot in any way prove that Goldie Ghamari is responsible" for the vandalism and was not making such an accusation, but argued that the public identification of her family's business by an elected official had put them at greater risk. [35] Ghamari later wrote on X that she condemned "all forms of violence" and urged that security camera footage be released to identify the perpetrators. [35]

Social media activism

As of October 2025, Ghamari produces frequent short-form political videos and live streams on YouTube and other platforms in support of the State of Israel and its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, and in opposition to Hamas and what she calls "Islamic terrorism". [36] Her videos frequently denounce pro-Palestinian demonstrations in North America and Europe and portray them as expressions of "Islamic terrorism" or support for terrorism. [37] [a]

The Gaza war and concomitant genocide that her content supports has been described by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, by a United Nations Human Rights Council commission of inquiry and by the International Association of Genocide Scholars as a genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. [b]

Electoral record

2022 Ontario general election : Carleton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Goldie Ghamari 22,29548.15−3.18$67,504
Liberal Tom Dawson12,45226.89+7.45$28,703
New Democratic Kevin St. Denis7,25615.67−6.83$14,674
Green Cody Zulinski2,5375.48+1.53$5,201
New Blue Rob Stocki1,0372.24 $2,991
Ontario Party Ethan Ferguson4941.07+0.27$0
None of the Above Chris Mark Beauchamp2350.51−0.31$0
Total valid votes/expense limit46,30699.66+0.69$133,325
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots1570.34-0.69
Turnout46,46348.79-13.12
Eligible voters93,064
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −5.32
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023.
2018 Ontario general election : Carleton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Conservative Goldie Ghamari 25,79851.33–1.67
New Democratic Courtney Potter11,30822.50+10.22
Liberal Theresa Qadri9,76819.44–8.49
Green Gordon Kubanek1,9853.95–1.89
None of the Above Evan Nightingale4130.82N/A
Ontario Party Jay Tysick3990.79N/A
Libertarian Jean-Serge Brisson 3860.77N/A
Cultural ActionKevin Harris1100.22N/A
Independent Mark Dickson890.18N/A
Total valid votes50,258
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots
Turnout64.05
Eligible voters78,460
Progressive Conservative notional hold Swing –5.95
Source: Elections Ontario [44]


Notes

  1. ↑ The use of the phrase "Islamic terrorism" is disputed. In Western political speech, it has variously been called "counter-productive", "highly politicized, intellectually contestable" and "damaging to community relations", by those who disapprove of the characterisation "Islamic". [38] [39] [40] It has been argued that "Islamic terrorism" is a misnomer for what should be called "Islamist terrorism".
  2. ↑ In 2024 and 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, the UN Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory and the International Association of Genocide Scholars each stated that Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide or amount to genocidal acts under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. [41] [42] [43]

References

  1. ↑ "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  2. ↑ Willing, Jon (April 2, 2021). "Law society suspends Ghamari's licence for allegedly not co-operating with investigation". Ottawa Citizen . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  3. ↑ Pfeffer, Amanda (April 6, 2021). "Law society suspends MPP Goldie Ghamari's licence over professional misconduct". CBC News. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ Rushowy, Kristin (June 28, 2024). "Doug Ford removes MPP Goldie Ghamari from caucus after she met with British far-right figure". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Ontario PC MPP thrown out of caucus after meeting with far-right figure Tommy Robinson". Global News. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  6. ↑ DeClerq, Katherine (November 24, 2023). "Doug Ford will not remove MPP from caucus amid allegations of 'dangerous rhetoric' on social media". CTV News. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  7. ↑ Payne, Elizabeth (October 15, 2022). "'We want to be their voice': Hundreds march in Ottawa to demonstrate against Islamic Republic regime". Ottawa Citizen.
  8. ↑ gghamari. "About". Goldie MPP | Carleton. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  9. ↑ Willing, Jon (April 2, 2021). "Law society suspends Ghamari's licence for allegedly not co-operating with investigation". Ottawa Citizen . Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Pfeffer, Amanda (April 6, 2021). "Law society suspends MPP Goldie Ghamari's licence over professional misconduct". CBC News. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  11. ↑ "PC MPP Goldie Ghamari's testimony before the Law Society of Ontario January 24, 2021". Politics Today. Queen's Park Today (Transcription). January 24, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  12. ↑ Willing, Jon (April 2, 2021). "Law society suspends Ghamari's licence for allegedly not co-operating with investigation". The Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  13. ↑ Nanji, Sabrina (January 14, 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: PC MPP accused of blocking Law Society probe into allegations of professional misconduct". Politics Today. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  14. ↑ Nanji, Sabrina (January 27, 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: Ghamari attempts to block release of cellphone records, citing PC Party confidentiality pact". Politics Today. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  15. ↑ David Reevely, "Ontario's PCs investigate candidate's physical-intimidation claim against MPP Randy Hillier". Ottawa Citizen , January 29, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Goldie Ghamari elected in Carleton". CBC News. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  17. ↑ "PC Goldie Ghamari wins again in Carleton". CBC News . Ottawa, Ontario. June 2, 2022. Archived from the original on June 11, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  18. ↑ Staff, Stittsville Central (September 20, 2023). "'OSTA funding gap was already addressed by Ministry and school boards in summer months' – MPP Goldie Ghamari". Stittsville Central – Local News, Events and Business. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  19. ↑ McKay, Lesley (May 27, 2023). "Lifejackets save lives – MPP Goldie Ghamari honours family with introduction of Bill 93 – Joshua's Law". Stittsville Central – Local News, Events and Business. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  20. ↑ Sabrina Nanji, "These PC candidates missed their campaign finance deadline", Queen's Park Observer, January 2023.
  21. 1 2 Rushowy, Kristin (June 28, 2024). "Doug Ford removes MPP Goldie Ghamari from caucus after she met with British far-right figure". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  22. ↑ Lynch, Niam (June 25, 2024). "Tommy Robinson arrested over suspected immigration offence in Canada". Sky News. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Ford kicks Goldie Ghamari out of caucus over 'her judgment and honesty'". Toronto Sun. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Ontario MPP 'not aware' of Tommy Robinson's history before speaking to far-right figure". Global News. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Ontario PC MPP thrown out of caucus after meeting with far-right figure Tommy Robinson". Global News. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  26. ↑ Gordon, Dave (April 8, 2024). "Canadian politician urges all to 'bring your Israel flags to Iranian rallies'". JNS. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  27. ↑ Ghamari, Goldie [@gghamari] (September 1, 2024). "I'm Zoroastrian..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ↑ Chianello, Joanne (May 24, 2018). "Carleton PC candidate says she doesn't believe climate change is man-made". CBC News. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 DeClerq, Katherine (November 24, 2023). "Doug Ford will not remove MPP from caucus amid allegations of 'dangerous rhetoric' on social media". CTV News. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Canadian ex-MPP's warning about Muslims sparks online firestorm", Indiatimes, 8 October 2025.
  31. ↑ Burke, Ashley. "More than 100 Iranian-Canadians call for party probe of Conservative nomination race". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  32. ↑ "Candidate pulls out of Tory Richmond Hill nomination race, citing shadow of foreign interference". The Hill Times. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Canadian politician warns of 'Christian genocide' in Nigeria", video, YouTube, 2025.
  34. ↑ "'You're a liar denying genocide': Canadian rights activist blasts Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Tuggar", Star FM Nigeria, 15 November 2025.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 Canadian Press Freedom Project, "Ontario MPP posts name of journalist’s family restaurant in response to critical comment", 13 September 2024.
  36. ↑ "Goldie Ghamari | گلسا قمری". YouTube. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Goldie Ghamari | گلسا قمری". YouTube. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  38. ↑ Jackson, Richard (2007). "Constructing Enemies: 'Islamic Terrorism' in Political and Academic Discourse". Government and Opposition. 42 (3): 394–426. doi:10.1111/j.1477-7053.2007.00229.x. ISSN   0017-257X. S2CID   143513477.
  39. ↑ Shmuel Bar. "The Religious Sources of Islamic Terrorism". Hoover Institution. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  40. ↑ Anthony H. Cordesman (October 17, 2017). "Islam and the Patterns in Terrorism and Violent Extremism". Center for Strategic and International Studies. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Anatomy of a Genocide – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967". Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. March 25, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  42. ↑ UN News, "UN inquiry finds Israel has committed acts of genocide in Gaza", 2025.
  43. ↑ Reuters, "Genocide scholars group says Israel committing genocide in Gaza", June 2024.
  44. ↑ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
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