A Canadian psychiatrist accused of human rights abuses in apartheid South Africa for subjecting gay soldiers and conscientious objectors to electric shock “cures”, will stand trial in Calgary on Wednesday for allegedly sexually abusing male patients.
Aubrey Levin, known in South Africa as “Dr Shock” for his use of electroshock therapy, is charged with sexual assaults on 10 patients, mostly prisoners assigned by the Canadian justice system for treatment. On Tuesday, a jury ruled he was fit to stand trial after the defence claimed Levin, 72, was suffering from the early stages of dementia.
Levin was arrested only after a male patient secretly filmed him making sexual advances. Earlier complaints by others were ignored by the authorities or not believed. His licence to practice has been suspended and the Alberta justice department has reviewed scores of criminal convictions in which the psychiatrist was a prosecution witness.
One of Levin’s patients told CTV two years ago he endured abuse because he was afraid to protest.
“I didn’t want him to write anything negative about me. So I pretty much kept quiet through the whole ordeal and the next time I came forward I was going to bring a tape recorder and record everything he was going to say, just to protect myself,” the man said.
After his arrest, about 30 other patients came forward to accuse Levin of sexual abuse.
Levin’s arrest raised questions in Canada as to how he was allowed to become a citizen and permitted to practice at the University of Calgary’s Medical School even after he was named by South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for “gross human rights abuses” during the apartheid era.
Levin was a colonel in the South African military and chief psychiatrist at 1 Military hospital in Pretoria in the 1970s and 80s, where he was in charge of a unit where electric shocks were administered to “cure” gay white conscripts. Levin also oversaw the use of electroshocks and powerful drugs against conscientious objectors refusing to fight for the apartheid army in Angola or suppress dissent in the black townships, who were held against their will and classified as “disturbed”.
Dance Party Rally for CeCeThursday, 3:00pm
Make some noise for CeCe before her trial starts on April 30th.
Come out to the Government Center for free food and dancing - Sotaboyzz DJs will be there starting at 3pm and going until CeCe has justice.
Let’s make sure that CeCe hears us loud and clear: We love and support her no matter what.
And let’s make sure that County Attorney hears us too: STOP HATE. FREE CECE.
!Support the CeCe Support Committee!
The CeCe Support Committee needs 10 groups of people to make vegan and gluten-free lunches for 40 people, and then drop them off downtown during CeCe’s trial.
If you are a group of folks who want to make a meal, please take a sec to create an account at our meal Train page -> http://www.mealtrain.com/?id=mo36ui4r9tgt
Or call Tj O’Connor (me!), at (651) FLOUTED.
If you’re looking for more people to cook with (or for recipe ideas, or someone to transport the food downtown), you can post here with this info:
-A little about your cooking interests
-Who you’re interested in cooking with
-How other people can get in contact with you (if FB isn’t your preferred method).
We’re dressing like royalty to show our support for CeCe; we need your help so that court support folks are eating like royalty too! Thank you so much!
