Date: Monday, July 28, 2025
File: 24-9345
Victoria, B.C. – After a lengthy investigation, 28-year-old man Khalid El Boyok has been charged with public incitement of hatred, following comments made during a demonstration in downtown Victoria on March 17, 2024.
On March 17, 2024, officers responded to a report of alleged antisemitic remarks directed towards a group of Jewish demonstrators on the lawn of the BC Legislature. The VicPD Major Crime unit investigated and submitted a Report to Crown Counsel. The BC Prosecution Service approved a charge of public incitement of hatred, and a warrant was issued for El Boyok. He was arrested on June 11, 2025.
“The Victoria Police Department takes all hate offences seriously, regardless of the targeted group. Our role is to police behaviours, not beliefs,” said Detective Tom Hayward, VicPD’s Hate Crime Coordinator. “The prolonged nature of this investigation is an indicator of the seriousness of this type of offence and the complex nature of proving Criminal Code offences related to hate propaganda.”
Further details are not available as the matter is now before the courts.
Understanding The Difference Between Hate Crimes, Hate Motivated Offences, and Hate Incidents
The term “hate crime” is not specifically used within the Criminal Code, but this term usually refers to hate propaganda offences and hate-motivated offences. Hate propaganda offences are specific offences outlined in the Criminal Code, including advocating for genocide and public incitement of hatred. These cases are rare, and some require the consent of the Attorney General to proceed. A hate-motivated offence is any Criminal Code offence driven by bias, prejudice, or hate, which is considered an aggravating factor during sentencing. Lastly, a hate incident is an incident that is motivated by the same factors as a hate motivated offence, but where no Criminal Code offence is committed. A hate incident may include name calling, insults, slurs or offensive signs or materials.
For more information, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation provides a hate crimes community toolkit for reporting hate and finding support, which can be found here.
The Victoria Police Department is committed to supporting all victims of hate. Hate crimes can leave people in the community feeling victimized, isolated, or unwelcome. Even if a hateful experience does not constitute a criminal offence, it can still cause significant harm. Reporting these incidents allows us to respond promptly and prevent escalation. If you are the victim of a hate-motivated offence, please file a police report by calling ECOMM at 250-995-7654 or 911 in the case of an emergency.
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