A Palestinian asylum seeker has blasted "white people" for Halloween decorations that remind her of Gaza.
Samar Alkhdour, 40, who sought asylum in Quebec in 2019, filmed herself shouting at homeowners for exhibiting fake severed limbs outside their property.
In the footage, she said: "F*** you all. F*** you, white people. F*** you, westerners."
The human rights campaigner questioned whether displaying artificial body parts constituted acceptable holiday celebrations, expressing particular concern about the impact on her sister's family, who recently fled Gaza.
She said: "I just want to ask, is this ok? Is this how holidays look like? This is just across the street from my sister's [house]. Is this f***ing ok? What's the fun about it? What is civilised about it? What is holiday about it?"
Ms Alkhdour's sister arrived in Canada this year with two children, aged eight and nine.
They spent eight months in Gaza before fleeing to the Great White North.
Mr Alkhdour told the Daily Mail: "It is not ok for the kids, who have seen these scenes in real life they've seen dismembered bodies, they've seen blood.
"How do you think they're going to heal from this trauma by seeing these scenes as part of a holiday celebration?"
Samar Alkhdour didn't hold back
|After creating a significant backlash, she later explained her outburst emerged from shock rather than hatred towards all white individuals.
She said: "I don't mean all white people. That was, for me, a critique of this white culture," arguing that Western society had corrupted Halloween's original purpose of honouring the deceased.
The footage triggered widespread condemnation on social media, with numerous users denouncing Ms Alkhdour's language as discriminatory and ungrateful.
Critics argued that individuals seeking sanctuary in Canada should demonstrate respect for the nation that provided them refuge.
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In the footage, she said: 'F*** you all. F*** you, white people. F*** you, westerners'
|One commenter said: "People who come to Canada seeking safety should at least respect the country that took them in."
Several responses included calls for deportation, with messages stating "Don't you like it? Go back home with your entire family" and "She won't be happy here. Please let her go!"
Ms Alkhdour received numerous hostile private messages on Instagram, which she subsequently shared publicly, revealing accusations of racism and claims she was exploiting Canadian taxpayer resources.
Despite the backlash, Ms Alkhdour remains resolute about continuing her advocacy efforts.
Samar Alkhdour sought asylum in Quebec in 2019
|The activist's eldest child, 13-year-old Jana, passed away in Gaza in January 2024, just two weeks before Canadian authorities approved the family's refugee documentation.
She said: "Nothing's going to stop me, because whatever that's gonna happen to me here is way better compared to what's happening to my people in Gaza, and what happened to my daughter."
Ms Alkhdour has faced legal consequences for her activism, including three arrests and one detention during Palestinian solidarity demonstrations.
In September 2024, she was among three protesters charged with criminal harassment of Montreal MP Marc Miller, though all charges were subsequently dismissed.