Roger Waters, Yves Engler to Announce Countersuit in Ongoing Defamation Dispute
Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters and author-activist Yves Engler, who is currently seeking the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party, are launching a countersuit against commentator Dahlia Kurtz, escalating a months-long legal and political dispute centred on criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza.
The pair will announce the counter-claim at an online press conference scheduled for November 27 at noon ET, alongside prominent civil liberties lawyer Julius Grey. The move comes as Engler prepares for a separate criminal trial beginning this week, where he faces a charge of allegedly “harassing” Montreal police.
Defamation lawsuit at centre of dispute
Kurtz, a media personality known for her pro-Israel commentary, launched a $300,000 defamation lawsuit earlier this year against both Engler and Waters. The statement of claim centres on comments the two men made on social media platforms, where they accused Kurtz of defending or minimizing Israeli military conduct in Gaza. Kurtz alleges the remarks damaged her reputation and crossed the line from political disagreement into defamatory personal attacks.
Waters and Engler reject the allegations, calling the lawsuit an attempt to suppress public criticism of Israeli policy and to discourage high-profile figures from speaking out on Gaza. In a statement ahead of the press conference, Engler described the suit as “an abuse of the legal system by a supporter of Israeli violence,” arguing that critics of Israel are increasingly facing legal and institutional pushback for their advocacy.
The conflict between Engler and Kurtz began in 2023, when Kurtz publicly supported Canadian Jews volunteering with the Israel Defense Forces during the conflict. Engler responded critically on X, prompting Kurtz to file a police report alleging harassment. Engler was arrested and spent five days in jail after refusing bail conditions that prohibited him from referencing Kurtz while awaiting trial. The Crown later dropped all charges related to Kurtz, but a separate charge involving his interaction with Montreal police remains before the court.
Kurtz has also pursued other complaints connected to the matter. She filed a grievance with the Senate ethics office after Senator Yuen Pau Woo criticized Engler’s imprisonment and expressed concern about political speech being criminalized. That complaint was dismissed. Kurtz further attempted to have the Barreau du Québec sanction Engler's lawyer for public comments he made, but that effort was also rejected.
Engler and Waters to file counter-claim
The upcoming counter-suit from Waters and Engler is expected to allege that Kurtz's defamation claim constitutes a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP)—a legal tactic often used to burden critics with costly litigation as a deterrent against further advocacy. Quebec's anti-SLAPP legislation permits defendants to seek early dismissal of lawsuits deemed to undermine democratic debate. Waters, who has faced widespread criticism in recent years for his outspoken views on Israel, says cases like this set a dangerous precedent.
Engler's involvement in the dispute has drawn national attention due in part to his prospective candidacy for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party. Though not considered a frontrunner, Engler has used his campaign to highlight foreign-policy issues, including Canada's arms exports and its position on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Kurtz has not yet publicly responded to the latest developments, but previously stated that her legal action is intended to defend her reputation against baseless and harmful accusations. She maintains that criticism of her political views does not justify what she characterizes as targeted online attacks.
The press conference is open to the media, reporters will be able to pose questions directly to Waters, Engler, and Grey following prepared statements.
