Abu Huzaifa al-Kanadi
Abu Huzaifa al-Kanadi | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Pakistani Canadian |
| Education | Madrassa in Pakistan (claimed), Canadian university in Toronto (currently) |
Abu Huzaifa al-Kanadi | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Abu Huzaifa the Canadian |
| Born | Toronto |
| Allegiance |  ISIS (2014-2016) |
| Years of service | 2014-2016 |
| Rank | Former recruit |
| Battles/wars | Manbij |
Abu Huzaifa al-Kanadi, also known as Abu Huzaifa the Canadian, is a self-described member of the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria. He joined the Islamic State in 2014 after cleaning his bank account and visiting Syria. It is unknown as to what his real name is, as he stated that he agreed to speak to CBC News that it would not be revealed.[1] He has also been counseled by Canadian Security Intelligence Service agent Mubin Shaikh. He returned to Canada in 2016, with possible rumors that he lives in the Toronto area. In 2018, he admitted in a podcast on The New York Times to have murderered two people while fighting for ISIS, and has been been criticized for by conservatives, including calls of him being found and ordering law enforcement to arrest him.
Background
Huzaifa was raised in the Toronto and went to Pakistan to study as a teenager.[2] He claimed that he studied at a madrassa in Pakistan in 2013.[1] He told his parents he would go to Turkey for a semester abroad and booked a flight from to Lahore to Istanbul from his Pakistani passport.[1] Upon arrival, he was met by a former Mississauga resident and visited the Syria–Turkey border town of Jarabulus to cross into Syria at night.[1] Prior to leaving Toronto in 2014, he cleaned his bank account,[1] He returned to Canada in 2016 and is currently attending a university in the Toronto area.[1]
Islamic State member
In 2014, Huzaifa left Toronto to join the Islamic State group, where he entered Manbij, a city located northeast of the Aleppo which had a population of 100,000 people.[1] He stated he trained for a few weeks and was assigned to al-Hisba, a Islamic police force enforcing Sharia law.[1] He used several hundred dollars to purchase a rifle, a Glock pistol, ISIS military uniform, and other tactical gear decorated with ISIS badges.[1] He stated that he made friends with other foreign fighters from Australia and Finland.[1] He met Mohammad Ali of Mississauga, also known as Abu Turaab al-Kanadi, and was the only Canadian he met.[1] He also stated that he knew about Andre Poulin, a Muslim convert from Timmins that was known as Abu Muslim al-Kanadi.[1]
In a podcast on The New York Times, Huzaifa admitted he has murdered people while fighting for the Islamic State.[3] He also took part in a community killing and admitted to have “stabbed” a drug dealer multiple times.[4] He escaped to Turkey, where he was arrested by authorities before being released a week later.[1] After his release, he returned to Pakistan and stayed for two years before eventually returning back to Canada.[1]
Return to Canada
Huzaifa returned to Canada in 2016 after two years of fighting for the Islamic State.[5] Upon his return, he had discussions with journalist Rukmini Callimachi; she stated that he felt more confident that he’d escape with law enforcement.[5] Former schoolmates stated that Huzaifa was a “loner” and an “anti-social guy” without “many friends”.[5] Huzaifa’s background story was compared to Quebec Mosque shooter Alexandre Bissonnette and Toronto van attack suspect Alek Minassian.[5] A year after he returned, he interviewed with CBC News and stated that he saw violence on a scale he could “never imagine” when he fought for the Islamic State.[1] Mubin Shaikh stated that Huzaifi could be “rehabilitated” and that Canada needs to “have an eye” on him.[6]
Controversies
After Huzaifa admitted to have fight for the Islamic State, conservative MPs called for action against him.[7] Conservative politician Candice Bergen criticized Justin Trudeau and the liberal government during the Question Period for not ordering law enforcement to arrest him.[8] Bergen also called for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale to reveal whether the government knows where he is or not, but Goodale stated that it was the “opposition of keeping Canadians safe”.[9] Trudeau called questions about Huzaifa “divisive”, and received criticism from conservative journalist Brian Lilley.[10] Huzaifa also received concerns from television journalist Diana Swain that he may be “lying” to The New York Times or CBC News.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Baksh, Nazim; Lancester, John (11 September 2017). "Young Canadian ISIS recruit says he saw violence on scale he could never have imagined". CBS News.
- ^ Malcolm, Candice (15 June 2018). "Malcolm: Canadian jihadists are bolder than ever, meanwhile Trudeau weakens our laws". Toronto Sun.
- ^ Buller, Alice (5 June 2018). "New York Times podcast 'Caliphate' faces backlash over ethics". Arab News.
- ^ Taghva, Ali (18 May 2018). "A Self Confessed ISIS Killer Walks Free – Because It's 2018". The Post Millennial.
- ^ a b c d Balkissoon, Denise (25 May 2018). "Canada's mysterious Islamic State returnee looks frighteningly familiar". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ MacDonald, Brennan; Kapelos, Vassy (24 May 2018). "Canada needs to 'have eyes' on returned ISIS fighter, says de-radicalization expert". CBC News.
- ^ "Conservative MPs call for action on self-described terror recruit for Daesh reportedly in Toronto". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. 11 May 2018.
- ^ Fernando, Spencer (12 May 2018). "Watch: Bergen Rips Trudeau Government For Letting Confessed-ISIS Terrorist Come Back To Canada". Spencer Fernando.
- ^ Khandaker, Tamara (11 May 2018). "Politicians are freaking out over a podcast about returned Canadian ISIS fighter". Vice News.
- ^ Lilley, Brian (12 May 2018). "Trudeau worries that questions about a violent ISIS fighter are divisive". Brian Lilley.
- ^ Swain, Diana (19 May 2018). "Did former Canadian ISIS member lie to the New York Times or to CBC News?". CBC News.