A billboard featuring the face of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has aroused both outrage and pride in Windsor, Ontario. Spokespersons for a Lebanese Christian political group and the Jewish Community Centre have called for its removal. Two members of the local Lebanese - Muslim community told the Windsor Star that they and many others endorse the billboard’s message and view Hezbollah as freedom fighters. The Canadian Ministry of Public Safety lists Hezbollah as an Islamist terrorist organization.

The sign is in a downtown neighbourhood with many mid-eastern shops and residents. On its left side is a message in English congratulating the Lebanese people for “their steadfastness and endeavor to establish peace in Lebanon.” On the right is Arabic that one translator says refers to fighting and guerrilla tactics. The sign doesn’t mention Hezbollah by name.

Last year some Hezbollah supporters marched openly in a Windsor parade behind a flag of the organization.

The mayor of Windsor Eddie Francis, a Lebanese - Canadian himself, when asked about the billboard said “The politics of Lebanon belong in Lebanon, not in the streets of Windsor.”

Eddie, it’s a small world.

[Added the picture after reading the comments.]

Update: CBC Windsor is reporting that that billboard was taken down early this morning  (Aug. 13.)