Canada too lists Al Shabaab as terrorist organization

The Government of Canada has listed Al Shabaab as a terrorist group, effective March 5 last, pursuant to the Criminal Code of Canada, the Canadian Minister of Public Safety, Mr. Vic Toews announced today.

The Harakat Shabaab al-Mujahidin (al-Shabaab)— also known by names such as al-Shabaab, Shabaab, the Youth, Mujahidin al-Shabaab Movement, Mujahideen Youth Movement, Mujahidin Youth Movement, and other variations—was the militant wing of the Somalia Council of Islamic Courts. It may be recalled this organisation had taken over most of southern Somalia in the second half of 2006. Although the Somali government and Ethiopian forces routed the group in a two-week war between December 2006 and January 2007, al-Shabaab has continued its violent insurgency in southern and central Somalia.

The US Government had designated on February 29, 2008, the al-Shabaab as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (as amended) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224 (as amended).

“This Government will not tolerate terrorism and is determined that terrorist groups do not receive support from Canadian sources,” said Minister Toews. “Listing this group is another example of the decisive action needed to make Canada’s communities safe. Canada is once again showing vigilance in the global fight against terrorism.”

The decision to list Al Shabaab meets 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, or in association with such an entity, the media release said.

The Government is taking this step to help protect Canadian families from the activities of this organization. The Government received reports from the Somali community that Al Shabaab has attempted to radicalize and recruit young Canadians. The listing of Al Shabaab will help the Government of Canada to better support the Somali community of Canada, the release said.

The objective of this listing is to help combat terrorist activities, including impeding terrorist financing. For example, the listing prohibits all persons in Canada as well as every Canadian abroad from knowingly dealing with assets owned or controlled by Al Shabaab. In addition, it is an offence to knowingly participate in, contribute to, or facilitate certain activities of a listed entity. Other related offences are set out 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, Listed Entities.

- Asan Tribune -