Canada plans to help Islamic State fighters ‘let go of that terrorist ideology’
PM Trudeau pledges to prosecute those returning gunmen who broke anti-terror laws, but also says his government will try to reintegrate them into society
See more Times of Israel on Google - add us as a
Preferred Source
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaking during a press conference on the last day of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima, November 20, 2016. (AFP/RAFAEL ZARAUZ)
OTTAWA — Canada is concerned about the national security threat posed by citizens who joined the Islamic State group returning to this country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday.
In parliament, Trudeau pledged to prosecute those who broke Canada’s anti-terrorism laws by joining the IS group, but also said his government would try to reintegrate them into society.
“We recognize the return of even one individual (who joined the IS group) may have serious national security implications,” Trudeau said.
“We are going to monitor them. We are also there to help them to let go of that terrorist ideology,” he added.
Fighters from the Islamic State group marching in Raqqa, Syria, January 14, 2014. (Militant photo via AP, File)
Nearly 180 Canadians are known to have traveled overseas to join the IS group. About 60 have returned to Canada, according to government figures released in 2016.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Editionby email and never miss our top stories
This file photo taken on August 05, 2017, shows refugees who crossed the Canada/US border illegally near Hemmingford, Quebec as they are processed in a tent after being arrested by the RCMP. (Geoff Robins/AFP)
Only two returnees have been prosecuted under Canada’s anti-terrorism act, so far.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale last week explained the difficulties of gathering evidence in war zones for successful criminal prosecutions.
He rejected, however, the use of extrajudicial killings used by allies to solve the problem, telling public broadcaster CBC: “Canada does not engage in death squads.”
Advertisement
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
