Hassan Husseini

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Hassan Husseini is a politician and political activist in Ontario, Canada. He is a prominent member of the Communist Party of Canada - Ontario, and led the party in the 1999 provincial election.

Originally from Lebanon, Husseini moved to Canada at a young age. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from the University of Ottawa in the early 1990s, and became an organizer for the Communist Party in the same period. He was also active in the student, anti-racism, peace and labour movements. Husseini was vice-president and organizer for the Ottawa-Carleton Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4600 District Council, and coordinated Ottawa's annual Walk for Peace, the Environment and Social Justice.

In November 1998, Husseini was selected as Ontario party leader and international affairs spokesperson at the CPC's 21st Convention. He attracted controversy by defending the FARC rebels of Colombia in a 1998 interview.[1]

The CPC-O ran only four candidates in the 1999 election. Husseini, running to the Toronto riding of York South—Weston, received 260 votes.

In late 2000, Husseini was arrested in downtown Toronto and charged with "participating in a riot" and "assault with weapon". These charges resulted from Husseini's participation in a June 15, 2000 protest at the Ontario legislature, which was organized by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty.

The leadership of the CPC-O described Husseini's arrest as "completely unjustified" and the charges as "groundless". Communist Party of Canada leader Miguel Figueroa described the arrest as "symptomatic of a growing assault on democratic rights in Toronto and across Canada".

Husseini was thirty-three years old at the time of the arrest. The case does not appear to have gone to trial.

Husseini appears to have stepped down as CPC-O leader in 2001, and was replaced by Elizabeth Rowley. He has participated in several anti-war and anti-racism rallies in recent years, and has argued in favour of Palestinian self-determination.