A 25-year-old B.C. man has been charged with leaving the country to help Islamic terrorist fighters in Syria, the RCMP revealed Wednesday.
Burnaby resident Hasibullah Yusufzai left Canada on Jan. 21, 2014 to join extremists in the war-torn Middle Eastern country, according to the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team.
Seven months later, he has yet to return home.
Mounties said Yusufzai is the first person charged under a new section of Criminal Code introduced last year outlawing terrorism-related travels. The offence carries a maximum prison term of 14 years.
“This investigation underscores the reality that there are individuals leaving Canada to take part in terrorist activity,” Asst. Commissioner James Malizia said in a statement. “These charges reaffirm the RCMP’s resolve to aggressively pursue terrorist acts to the fullest extent of the law.”
Neighbours in the Burnaby social housing complex where Yusufzai’s family lives said they’re surprised at the charge against him.
They told CTV News they were under the impression Yusufzai was simply visiting the region, and described his family as good people.
The RCMP has released few details about the allegations against Yusufzai, including what group he’s accused of joining and in what capacity.
Home-grown terrorism
Earlier this year, Canadian intelligence officials expressed growing concerns about the phenomenon of young citizens being radicalized and recruited to take part in terrorism abroad.
In February, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service revealed it believed roughly 30 Canadian extremists were helping terror groups in Syria alone.
An annual CSIS report released in April also outlined fears that home-grown terrorists could come back even further radicalized and with combat experience.
“There is a significant concern that extremism in Syria will result in a new generation of battle-hardened extremists who may seek to return to their home countries,” it read.
Canada’s Criminal Code Section 83.201 applies to anyone who leaves or attempts to leave the country to commit a crime with, or on behalf of, a terrorist group.
It was introduced in July 2013 as part of Bill S-7, an anti-terrorism bill that also gave authorities the power to force witnesses to disclose information about potential terrorist acts in secret hearings, even if they haven’t been charged.
