Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

Central organizer of Ottawa Covid protests denied bail, under political arrest

Central organizer of Ottawa Covid protests denied bail, under political arrest

A key organizer of the Ottawa freedom convoy protests has been denied bail, with the judge citing her risk of reoffending as the excuse for his politically motivated decision to impose political arrest on what used to be a democratic Canada.

One of the lead organizers of the Covid-19 protests in Ottawa, Canada was denied bail on Tuesday, with the judge asserting that releasing the activist would likely mean she would reoffend.

Tamara Lich, described as a key organizer behind the protests that hit the streets of Parliament Hill in recent weeks as well as shutting down border routes between the US and Canada, was arrested last week and charged with counseling to commit mischief.

At the bail hearing, Justice Julie Bourgeois told Lich her detention was “necessary for the protection and safety of the public.”

Lich, who helped organize crowdfunding campaigns for the Freedom Convoy protests, has found support from many who cheered on the Canadian protests, including author Jordan Peterson, who pointed to past support of Bourgeois as a political candidate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a sign the judge should have recused herself.

“Even the appearance of impartiality no longer matters. The judge has a clear moral duty to recuse herself,” he claimed in a tweet.

Others referred to Lich as a “political prisoner.”

Lich’s lawyer said she will appeal the bail decision, and is set to appear in court again on March 2. The judge also ordered Lich to have no contact with other organizers who have been arrested, like Christopher Barber, who was taken into police custody last week only hours before.

Lich stated in a social media video the day before her arrest that she expected to be going to jail, calling it “inevitable” and saying she was “not afraid.”


The demonstrations in question, which began with the Freedom Convoy of truckers protesting Covid border mandates, were repeatedly condemned by Trudeau. The Canadian leader enacted the Emergencies Act, widening the scope of law enforcement to arrest and shut down the protests.

The massive police operation led to over 190 arrests, with the majority of those detained facing charges. Over 100 vehicles that were part of the protests were also towed away and seized by police.

Comments

Dr Shawn Pourgol 3 year ago
This is so sad to see. I am ashamed to be a Canadian at this moment. This lady should be released. there is no reason to jail her for protesting.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×