Photo: In this CBC News video, Bassam Hashem, the father of the woman assaulted outside CANSEC, laments the ruling. He says: “We came to this country for one reason … that we can express ourselves. That we are equal citizens. Today we were told, ‘No. You are second-class citizens. You can be assaulted and that’s OK.” Photo by PBI-Canada of Hashem being interviewed by CBC News.
An attack against a Palestinian rights defender outside the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa in May 2024 has received significant media attention this summer.
On July 22, 2026, Justice Norman Boxall granted Swiss arms lobbyist David Henschel an absolute discharge following his admission of guilt in July 2025 on the charge of assaulting the 21-year-old woman.
At the time, Henschel was an employee of Swiss munitions firm Rheinmetall Waffe Munition Schweiz AG. He is now reportedly a lobbyist with Ammolux, the Luxembourg-based ammunition sub-holding of Beretta Holding.
Video still of the assault on May 29, 2024, outside CANSEC.
The articles about the ruling include:
–Swiss man who assaulted protester in Ottawa gets absolute discharge (CBC News, July 22, 2026), plus the CBC News video here
–Arms contractor granted discharge over assault on protester at Ottawa arms expo (The Canadian Press via CTV News, July 22, 2026)
–Arms supplier acquitted for assault on Ottawa protester (The Canadian Press via Radio Canada, July 23, 2026)
– ‘Proud,’ ‘Fucking Racist’ Absolutely Discharged of Assault on Palestinian Woman (The Leveller, July 25, 2026)
–Judge rules absolute discharge for Swiss man who punched 21-year-old Muslim protester at CANSEC 2024 (The Fulcrum, July 25, 2026)
–Swiss man who assaulted protester in Ottawa gets absolute discharge (shottawa.tv, July 23, 2026)
–Luxembourg ammo manufacturer hires lobbyist who assaulted protester (Investigative Journalism Foundation, August 9, 2026).
Numerous organizations – including the Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians (APAC), Labour for Palestine – Ottawa, and the Palestinian Youth Movement – Ottawa – also issued a statement of concern (published by Muslim Link here).
Attacks against defenders opposing arms companies
In May 2026, the London, United Kingdom-based Business and Human Rights Centre (BHRC) released a report titled Navigating a global crossroads: Human rights defenders and business in 2025.
The report highlights that in 2025 there were at least forty-six attacks against defenders raising concerns about arms and weapons companies and their complicity in conflict and genocide. It further notes: “Protesters at arms fairs targeting companies selling weapons to Israel were detained in the United States, Turkey, Switzerland and France, whilst activists in New Zealand faced violence for protesting the militarisation of aerospace technology and its uses against civilian populations.”
CANSEC 2027
The next CANSEC arms show is now scheduled for June 2-3, 2027. It is not known if David Henschel will attend this event.
After the court ruling on July 22, The Fulcrum reported: “Given his experience in Canada, the judge said Henschel is unlikely to return and doesn’t need conditions to deter him.” The Investigative Journalism Foundation subsequently reported on August 9: “Henschel is back in Ottawa and was listed on Ammolux’s communication report with the chief of staff to Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr on Aug. 4.”
We continue to follow this.
Additional reading: CANSEC Arms Fair Bars Multiple Independent Journalists From Attending (Alex Cosh, The Maple, May 26, 2026).
