Ottawa, November 8, 2013 — The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today announced that the Government of Canada has listed Jabhat Al-Nusra and al-Muwaqi’un Bil Dima as terrorist groups under the Criminal Code.
“Jabhat Al-Nusra is an organization that has claimed responsibility for nearly 600 terrorist attacks, including car bombings and suicide attacks that have killed scores of innocent Syrian civilians,” said Minister Blaney. “Listing this terrorist entity, which has publicly sworn allegiance to Al-Qaida, is an essential part of our efforts to combat terrorism.”
“Al-Muwaqi’un Bil Dima also supports Al Qaida’s violent ideology, and its leader, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, is a well-known Al Qaida associate. The organization has claimed responsibility for the January 2013 attack on the Tigantourine gas facility in eastern Algeria that resulted in the deaths of at least 48 hostages,” added Minister Blaney. “This heinous and cowardly attack demonstrates that terrorism remains a prevalent global problem and must be addressed with every tool at our disposal.”
“The safety and security of Canadians is a priority for our Government, and the listing of terrorist entities sends a strong message that terrorist activity will not be tolerated.”
The actions of Jabhat Al-Nusra and al-Muwaqi’un Bil Dima meet the legal threshold set out in the Criminal Code, which requires the existence of reasonable grounds to believe that the entity has knowingly participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity or is knowingly acting on behalf of, at the direction of, or in association with such an entity.
The listing process requires extensive analysis of intelligence and/or criminal information.
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.
