Early in 2017 I used this blog to keep screenshots of how Alexandre Chebeir (who I sometimes called Chbeir because he went as both online) harassed women.
You can check the Chebeir tag.
There is new news on him. It’s further proof that people who habitually harass women online shouldn’t be treated like social goofs who don’t know any better.
In addition to sexually harassing women on all social media platforms as Alexandre Chbeir/Chebeir, he was also using a fake account to threaten feminists and feminists organizations with photos of Marc Lépine, a mass murder whose suicide note claimed political motives and blamed feminists for ruining his life.
These threats were BEFORE he came onto the radar of belly dancers.
There were hoards of people who harassed the dancer who put him on blast with screenshots (which went viral). They acted like HER behavior was wrong and like he was the victim. People with no connection to Chebeir went out of their way to harass/silence/threaten her (and it worked, she became afraid to talk about this) and implied that her reaction was out of line and might have escalated him to worse things.
He was already doing worse things. Each online outing of his behavior with screenshots made it easier for other victims of him to Google and know that this is how he treats women and that it wasn’t because of any failure on how they present themselves online.
The news from my inbox today
Letter 1
I wanted to let you know, we are several feminists in Montreal who filed a complaint for harassment and some of us recently won our case against him. He has pleaded guilty and has been in jail since Feb. 22, awaiting his sentence on March 15th (prosecution asked for 6 months). He will also be tried in Gatineau on March 12th in another case of harrassment I don’t know much about. Here’s the article (in French) that was published today.
http://www.ledevoir.com/societe/522246/sandrine-ricci-et-les-trolls
Feel free to publish this info (but not my name). Women who experienced harassment from Chebeir may also contact me if they want to know more.
Thanks.
Of course her name is redacted here and you’ll have to contact me privately if you want connection to her.
The second letter had similar info but was mostly quotes from the French article.
Here is a google translation of the article:
A breeze of hope blew over the day of March 8: a group of feminist researchers believes to have finally been heard in a case of criminal harassment where a man has used photos of Marc Lépine to threaten them. Judged potentially recidivist, the man, who pleaded guilty, will remain incarcerated until he knows his sentence, on March 15th. The Crown has asked for the maximum for this type of charge, which is six months in prison.
“It surprises me that a prosecutor decided to take the case to court. In my experience, there are some who take responsibility and do not have the audacity to go further because they are circumstantial files where it is difficult to prove beyond doubt. It’s a systemic problem, “said Devoir Mélissa Blais, a researcher and specialist in anti-feminist movements, on the sidelines of the sentencing hearing at the Montreal courthouse. She herself was the victim of cyberbullying in another cause.
On July 23, 2016, Sandrine Ricci realizes that the Facebook page of the Quebec Network of Feminist Studies (RéQEF) she coordinates is the target of a stalker who publishes under a fake Facebook profile almost 20 links to photos of Marc Lépine and “#JeSuisMarc”. Fearing, she talks to the women directors of the group and complains to the police the next day. The investigation starts. Shortly afterwards, another complaint to the same abuser is filed by the administrator of the Facebook group of the campaign “No yes, no! “, Against sexual assault on campus.
One year later, on September 12, 2017, Alexandre Chebeir, a resident of Gatineau, pled guilty to criminal harassment in both cases. With mental health problems, the man does not have a criminal record. While awaiting sentence, the perpetrator was arrested again in February for hate speech against a woman on the Internet.
“It was sent to good service at the SPVM, which was so horrified by the messages that were [published] that it took over computer services that normally only [are] for pedophile or child pornography files” , said Crown Attorney Jimmy Simard, about the case of the RÉQEF.
Survey problems?
At the courthouse, in the group of scholars who came to support Ms. Ricci, questions were shouting from all sides. Why are not all complaints of such hate crimes against women being withheld? Why do not some people go to the trial stage, as was recently the case for a UQAM feminist magazine?
Many also questioned the fact that thorough investigations are actually conducted in all cases. Sandrine Ricci was surprised to learn that the investigators and the prosecutor had not even typed in a browser the name of the accused, where it is possible to find several complaints of women who say they are harassed. “If you do not use Google in the case of a hate crime committed on the Internet, from the point of view of the methodology of work, there is a problem,” she said.
In the SPVM’s crime, prevention and urban security division, Detective Lieutenant-General Lemay ensures that serious investigations are conducted for each of the reports that constitute hate crimes within the meaning of the Criminal Code. But she admits that investigators sometimes lack time. Applying for search warrants to seize a computer or obtaining an international order to access Facebook’s servers takes time. “Some files are very complex and require a lot of resources and efforts. Delays will work against us, unfortunately, “she says. It recalls that for certain summary offenses, the time limit is six months. “It’s very short. “
More than “trolls”
In Mr. Simard’s opinion, if Ms. Ricci’s complaint went to court, it was because the record, in this case, was complete and convincing. It was easier for a prosecutor to defend him before a judge.
Mélissa Blais, who received e-mails from death threats from a man who also made references to Marc Lépine, was unable to take his case to court because the prosecutor asked for an amicable agreement against him. his will. “We are being banged on 810, that’s how we deal with violence against women,” she said, referring to a section of the Criminal Code with conditions to respect that exempts the abuser from a criminal case. “There is also the subjectivity of prosecutors that comes into play. “
Sandrine Ricci was nevertheless satisfied with the turn of events in her case. “The attorney and the judge seem quite aware of the political issues surrounding hate crimes against women. They seem to appreciate the extent of the use of the symbolism of Polytechnique and Marc Lépine. It’s something that’s positive, “she said.
The researcher from UQAM would like to encourage women to denounce, themselves sometimes having a tendency to minimize this cyberviolence. “We are in a logic of trivialization of sexism and misogyny as it is omnipresent in society. The term “troll” itself helps to minimize. The trolls are small smiling and grimacing creatures, but they are not very threatening, “she says before adding,” I want to send the message to women and feminists that we can oppose it. And send the message to men and predators of this world that impunity will do. “
