Leela Aheer says social media hack tried to ‘silence her’

UCP leadership candidate Leela Aheer says she was targeted by people who want to silence her, and derail her campaign after her social media accounts were hacked.

She made the comments at a news conference on Wednesday morning, choked up and with tears in her eyes.

Aheer, who is the MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore, says she is working with the RCMP to find the people who hacked her personal and professional Facebook accounts, and allegedly purchased porngraphy in her name.

“To whomever perpetrated this attack on myself and my family, you will not win I will not back down,” Aheer said.

When asked if she suspects the hack has anything to do with her Twitter post disparaging the Alberta Prosperity Project, Aheer said that she doesn’t know who may be targeting her, but she stands up for her principles.

I’m not going to mince words.

White supremacy, homophobia & racism have been supported & encouraged for too long in politics.

Anyone participating in the Prosperity Project / Rebel Media Debate, should be held accountable for supporting this toxic culture.1/ #ableg #abpoli

— Hon. Leela Sharon Aheer ECA (@LeelaAheer) August 20, 2022

However, she did rule out that the attack may have come from supporters of another leadership campaign.

When asked if she suspected anyone in particular was behind the hack, she did not offer an answer. She said she wishes she could say more, but because the matter is under investigation by police, she can’t.

Aheer condemned the actions of the hackers, and said the incident is bigger than politics.

“This is not anybody’s vision for Alberta,” Aheer said.