The Lawfare Project, in partnership with Zacharias Vickers McCann LLP, filed a defamation lawsuit on April 15, 2025, in the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta on behalf of Collin May, the ousted former chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC). May’s 2022 dismissal by Justice Minister Tyler Shandro followed a coordinated campaign by activist groups, including Progress Alberta and the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), that falsely branded him an “Islamophobe” by conflating his 2009 scholarly review of Professor Efraim Karsh’s book with his views. The suit seeks damages for personal and professional harm, a public retraction, and sanctions on those who weaponized false accusations to silence legitimate academic and public‐service discourse.
Defamation Suit Unveiled
On April 15, 2025, The Lawfare Project announced it has commenced defamation proceedings against Progress Alberta, the NCCM and affiliated individuals, alleging a “knowingly false and malicious” campaign that cost May his AHRC leadership post. The action, filed in the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, demands financial compensation, formal retractions, and accountability for orchestrating the smear.
Background: Book Review and Forced Resignation
In 2009, May authored a peer-reviewed essay on Islamic Imperialism: A History, attributing critical perspectives solely to Professor Efraim Karsh and distancing himself from them. Following May’s May 2022 appointment as AHRC chief, activists flagged the review, prompting a letter from the NCCM and 27 Muslim organizations demanding his resignation. Despite expressing a willingness to meet community leaders, May refused to resign. Justice Minister Tyler Shandro rescinded his appointment by cabinet order on September 15, 2022, citing no substantive explanation, and May was ousted.
Legal Actions and Stakes
The defamation claim contends that Progress Alberta, the NCCM, and co‑conspirators “misattributed Karsh’s polemical views to Mr. May,” weaponizing allegations of Islamophobia to derail his public service. In addition to seeking damages for reputational and career harm, the lawsuit calls for formal apologies, retractions, and legal consequences for defendants who propagated demonstrably false claims. May previously pursued a separate $2.1 million wrongful dismissal suit against the provincial government in October 2022, alleging breach of contract and bad‐faith termination.
Voices of Counsel
“This case is crucial in defending the integrity of public discourse and ensuring that scholarly and intellectual freedom are not undermined by defamatory accusations of Islamophobia designed to intimidate and silence,” asserted Benjamin Ryberg, COO of The Lawfare Project.
“I am bringing this litigation not only to clear my name but also to confront the dangerous combination of antisemitism, anti-intellectualism, and partisan hostility threatening Canadian democracy,” said Collin May.
“Our client is taking a stand against what we view as defamatory attacks designed to silence scholarly discussion and distort public perception through baseless allegations of Islamophobia,” added Brian Vickers of Zacharias Vickers McCann LLP.
Implications for Academic Freedom
Legal experts warn that unchecked defamation of public‐service figures and academics chills vital debate on sensitive issues. May’s ouster and the near‑year delay in holding his defamers to account underscore the urgent need for robust legal remedies to protect intellectual inquiry and free expression from politically motivated smears. The outcome of this lawsuit may well set a precedent for safeguarding scholars and public officials against orchestrated campaigns that weaponize hate‑speech laws to suppress dissent.