TORONTO - The City of Toronto has prohibited the local chapter of the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies from displaying a poster titled "The Making of a War Criminal" featuring an image of Hitler saluting and a photo of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad witha burning devil over his shoulder.
The disputed poster was to be displayed as part of a travelling Holocaust exhibit in schools and institutions throughout the Canadian city.
City officials claimed the exhibit may "stereotype or promote views and ideas which are likely to promote discrimination, contempt or hatred for any persons".
Avi Benlolo, chief executive in the Canadian branch of the Wiesenthal Center said in response that "Ahmadinejad's threat to wipe Israel off the map - if that's not a call for genocide or another Holocaust, I don't know what is," said.
"We did this exhibit to press this case. It needs to be seen in public spaces," Benlolo said.
City councilor Mike Feldman defended the city's decision to edit the exhibit, saying "It's the city's responsibility to try to maintain a peace within the city. The city is erring on the side of caution. If we display that, then what will prevent any display from anyone else?"
He said he was concerned that the exhibit would provide a platform for Ahmadinejad's "very dangerous" ideas.
"I don't think anyone is applauding what this mad man is saying but ... I don't know what the (display) would accomplish," he said.
Benlolo, on his part, said the exhibit is not meant to be offensive.
"It's meant to be shocking," he said. "It is meant to be provocative because the situation is real and serious."