Official announcements from the Canadian government or verified news sources

Canada and U.S. Sanction Vancouver-Based Samidoun as Terrorist Entity Linked to PFLP

Oct 15, 2024, 03:09 PM

Canada and the United States have jointly designated the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (Samidoun) as a terrorist entity, effective October 11, citing its alleged role as a "sham charity" that serves as an international fundraiser for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization backed by Iran. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Samidoun and one of its leaders, Khaled Barakat, who is accused of being a PFLP member. His wife, Charlotte Kates, is also involved with Samidoun. The designation follows recent protests in Vancouver where Samidoun was reportedly involved in rallies where participants chanted "Death to Canada" and burned the Canadian flag. Samidoun, a Vancouver-based organization, has been previously banned in Israel and Germany. By listing Samidoun as a terrorist entity under Canada's Criminal Code and sanctioning it under U.S. counterterrorism authorities, both governments aim to counter terrorist organizations and their global fundraisers. Supporting Samidoun is now a criminal offense in Canada.