OTTAWA, December 20, 2012 — The Honourable Vic Toews, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, today announced that the Government of Canada has made changes to the Criminal Code list of terrorist entities.
“The list of terrorist entities sends a strong message that Canada will not tolerate terrorist activities, including terrorist financing, or those who support such activities,” said Minister Toews. “That is why Canada has made the principled decision to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Qods Force to the list.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Qods Force is the clandestine branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for extraterritorial operations, and for exporting the Iranian Revolution through activities such as facilitating terrorist operations. The Qods Force provides arms, funding and paramilitary training to extremist groups, including the Taliban, Lebanese Hizballah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command. Earlier this year, under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, the Government of Canada listed Iran as a state that supports terrorism.
“The listing of terrorist entities facilitates the prosecution of perpetrators and supporters of terrorism and plays a key role in countering terrorist financing,” added Minister Toews. “The Government of Canada remains vigilant against the threat of terrorism and is committed to ensuring that the list of terrorist entities remains current.”
The Government of Canada has also completed its two year review of the Criminal Code list of terrorist entities. This review found that 43 entities currently listed should remain on the list, and that the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) should be removed. The United States of America and the European Union have also recently removed the MEK from their terrorist entities list.
While it is not a crime to be a member of a listed entity, under the Criminal Code, any person or group listed may have their assets seized and forfeited. There may be severe penalties for persons and organizations that deal in the property or finances of a listed entity. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly participate in, or contribute to, any activity of a listed entity for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the entity to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity. This offence and other related offences are set out, in full, in the Criminal Code.
The names of listed entities under the Criminal Code can be found on the Public Safety Canada Web site at www.publicsafety.gc.ca under National Security, Listed Entities.
Information:
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
Julie Carmichael
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2924
