It is now a criminal offence to knowingly deal in the property or finances of this group
November 3, 2014 Ottawa, Ontario Public Safety Canada
The Honourable Steven Blaney, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today announced that the Government of Canada has added Jaysh al-Muhajirin wal-Ansar to the Criminal Code list of terrorist entities.
Jaysh al-Muhajirin wal-Ansar is a jihadist militant group operating primarily in the Aleppo area of northern Syria. It has ties to the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both of which are listed terrorist entities in the Criminal Code.
The actions of Jaysh al-Muhajirin wal-Ansar meet the legal threshold set out in the Criminal Code, which requires the existence of reasonable grounds to believe that an 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. This change to the Criminal Code list of entities demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to ensuring that the list reflects the evolving nature of terrorist entities.
The Criminal Code allows for 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 related offences are set out, in full, in the Criminal Code.
Quick Facts
- The listing process requires extensive analysis of intelligence and/or criminal information.
- This terrorist entity is led by Chechans from Russia’s North Caucasus, and the group’s membership consists of approximately 1000 fighters, most of them foreign.
- The organization’s tactics include the use of large suicide vehicle bombs, ground assaults, hostage taking and kidnapping, including foreign nationals and Syrian civilians.
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- 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, Counter-Terrorism.
Contacts
Jason Tamming
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-991-2924
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
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For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.
