Green Party candidate resigns over post about mailing pig carcass to Muslims

The Green Party‘s federal candidate in the Ontario riding of Simcoe North has resigned after coming under fire over a 2007 Facebook post in which he appeared to suggest he wanted to mail pieces of a pig carcass to Muslims.

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, the Green Party said Schomann had stepped down and would no longer be running for the party.

“Today the Green Party of Canada accepted Erik Schomann’s resignation as a candidate in Simcoe North,” said the party in a statement.

“The Green Party has zero tolerance for sexism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, misogyny, homophobia or hate speech of any kind.”

READ MORE: Party leaders dive into campaigning in B.C., Alberta, Ontario

The National Council of Canadian Muslims had called earlier in the day for the Greens to drop Erik Schomann over the post in question, in which he showed a picture of himself and others roasting a pig along with the caption: “we sent the left-overs to Denmark in support of the protesters of the Muhammed comic.”

That references a controversy back in 2005 after a Danish newspaper published cartoon drawings of the Prophet Muhammed, and which prompted criticism from Muslim groups as well as violent backlash from some extremists. Islam forbids depictions of Muhammed.

Muslims do not eat pork — it is considered unclean and taboo.

Mustafa Farooq, the executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said the post is unacceptable.

WATCH BELOW: Investigation launched after gift-wrapped pig head delivered to Islamic centre

1:50 Investigation launched after gift-wrapped pig head delivered to Islamic centre

“We call upon the Green Party of Canada to drop Mr. Schomann as a candidate,” Farooq said.

“While we greatly cherish the free speech rights of all Canadians, when you start promising to mail pieces of a pig carcass, you can no longer stand with the integrity and moral commitment that all those who wish to be elected must have.”

READ MORE: Green Party’s Pierre Nantel calls for Quebec independence

Farooq also said: “Sending pieces of a pig carcass, of course, is a common practice amongst members of the alt-right who believe that sending pieces of a pig will intimidate our community. Indeed, prior to the Quebec City Mosque shootings, a pig’s head was left at the mosque.”

The post in question is backdating, meaning the publication date on it has been changed to Oct. 31, 1983.

But Facebook also still makes it possible to see the real publication date, which was March 15, 2007.

Global News also reached out to Schomann but has not received a response.