OTTAWA, October 24, 2006 – Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Stockwell Day announced that yesterday Canada’s new government listed Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s faction of the Hezb-e Islami, Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG), as a terrorist group pursuant to the Criminal Code of Canada.The Government of Canada has determined that this entity knowingly engages in terrorist activity. This brings to 40 the number of listed entities under the Criminal Code.“Canada’s new government is once again taking decisive action to protect Canadians from terrorism and to safeguard our nation’s security,” said Minister Day. “Listing Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin, which has joined forces with Al Qaida and the Taliban, is an important step in ensuring our safety and security in the global fight against terrorism,” he added. HIG espouses a violent anti-Western ideology whose objective is the overthrow of the administration of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the elimination of all-Western influence in Afghanistan and the creation of a fundamentalist state. Since late 2002, Hekmatyar has joined forces with Al Qaida and the Taliban to form a violent anti-Western, anti-Afghan government alliance. HIG has a history of engaging in terrorist activities inside Afghanistan in order to achieve its goals, including killings, torture, kidnappings, attacking political targets, as well as targeting civilians, journalists, foreigners, and foreign aid workers. “This move is a further demonstration of Canada’s commitment to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan,” said the Honorable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs. “We continue to work with our international partners to help rebuild Afghanistan and to ensure that it does not serve as a safe-haven for terrorists.”Any person or group listed may have its assets seized and forfeited. There are severe penalties, including up to ten years imprisonment, for persons and organizations that deal in the property or finances of any listed entity. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly participate in, contribute to, or facilitate the activities of a listed entity. Other related offences are set out in the Criminal Code.The listing process is ongoing, rigorous, and guided by Canadian law. It requires extensive analysis of security and/or criminal information and intelligence to ensure that the decision to list meets the legal test. The names of listed entities under the Criminal Code can be found in the Canada Gazette and on the Public Safety Canada website.For further information:Media RelationsPublic Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada613-991-0657Mélisa Leclerc Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day Minister of Public Safety (613) 991-2863Daniel Dugas Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Peter MacKay Minister Foreign Affairs Canada (613) 995-1851
