Official announcements from U.S. Department of the Treasury or related government bodies

U.S. and Canada Designate Vancouver's Samidoun as Terrorist Entity, Sanction Khaled Barakat

Oct 15, 2024, 03:08 PM

In a coordinated action, the United States and Canada have designated the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, a Vancouver-based organization, as a terrorist entity, citing its role as a front for fundraising for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Tuesday that Samidoun, described as a 'sham charity,' serves as an international fundraiser for the PFLP. Canada simultaneously listed Samidoun as a terrorist entity under its Criminal Code, effective October 11. The Treasury Department also sanctioned Khaled Barakat, a key leader of Samidoun and a member of the PFLP. The action follows incidents where members of Samidoun were involved in protests in the U.S. and Canada, including burning the Canadian flag and chanting 'Death to Canada.' A State Department spokesperson stated that the U.S. is committed to countering terrorist organizations and their global fundraisers.