Quebec radio host encourages caller who declared Holocaust ‘the most beautiful thing to happen in history’

Graeme Hamilton | Nov 23, 2012 12:37 PM ET | Last Updated: Nov 23, 2012 12:41 PM ET
More from Graeme Hamilton | @grayhamilton

HandoutLate night radio host Jacques Fabi of 98.5FM radio in Montreal

 

MONTREAL – A veteran Quebec radio host nicknamed “the king of the night” is facing disciplinary action after he encouraged an anti-Semitic caller who declared the Holocaust to be “the most beautiful thing to happen in history.”

During his midnight to 5:30 a.m. broadcast on Cogeco’s 98.5 FM Thursday, Jacques Fabi, took a call from a woman identifying herself as Maria. She said she was of Arab origin and was distraught that her “brothers and sisters” were dying in Gaza.

She then invited Mr. Fabi to participate in a quiz, trying to guess what animal she was thinking of. When he guessed dog, she replied, “Exactly, it’s an Israeli” and laughed.

She then asked him whether he knew about Hitler and the Holocaust. “For me, it was the most beautiful thing to happen in history,” she said.

Instead of cutting the line or confronting her, Mr. Fabi affirmed that she had the right to say what she had said but she should be careful.

“You know that here, in this democratic country, one can never say anything offensive against the Israelis, because it can be costly, you know,” he said. She said she did not care, and he said he finds it “annoying” that some topics are off limits. “You know, Madame, in this beautiful country we have freedom of expression, but one can never make negative comments, whatever their nature, against the Jewish people,” he said. “Otherwise there will be consequences.”

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO (IN FRENCH) (CALL STARTS AT ABOUT 2:30)

He said she was fortunate to benefit from anonymity as a caller to an open-line show. “I find it a real pain not be able to comment sometimes,” he said, noting that Montreal has a “pretty sizeable Jewish population” and that he sometimes finds their behavior “annoying.” He concluded by thanking her for her call.

The Quebec branch of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs sent a letter Thursday demanding that disciplinary action be taken against Mr. Fabi, who began his radio career in 1972 in Sherbrooke. The letter said Mr. Fabi was an accomplice to the caller in spreading comments that promoted hatred and violence against Jews.

David Crête, a spokesman for 98.5 FM called the comments unacceptable. “Sanctions will be taken against Jacques Fabi,” he said, but as of Friday morning the exact nature of the punishment had not been determined.

Mr. Fabi’s show, Fabi la nuit, draws about 40,000 listeners and is heard on Cogeco stations across the province.