Samidoun, Group Behind ‘Death to Canada’ Chant, Designated as Terrorist Entity

Canada has officially designated Samidoun, a pro-Palestinian group responsible for a Vancouver rally where protesters chanted "death to Canada" and burned the Canadian flag, as a terrorist entity. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the decision on Tuesday, alongside a similar designation by the U.S. Treasury Department, which lists the group as a global terrorist entity.

LeBlanc stated that Canada will not tolerate violent extremism or terrorism, emphasizing that the listing under the Criminal Code sends a strong message that the country is committed to protecting national security and countering terrorist threats.

Samidoun has been previously designated as a terrorist group by Germany and the Netherlands due to its ties with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is also considered a terrorist entity by Canada, the U.S., and the European Union.

The U.S. Treasury Department called Samidoun a "sham charity" that acts as an international fundraiser for the PFLP, imposing sanctions on both the group and its leader, Khaled Barakat, who holds Canadian citizenship.

Samidoun, which claims to advocate for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, has chapters in multiple countries, including Canada. According to Public Safety Canada, many of the prisoners it supports have ties to terrorism, and the organization’s ultimate goal is the destruction of Israel.

The designation comes shortly after MPs in the House of Commons condemned Samidoun for its involvement in the Vancouver rally, where demonstrators voiced support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. Vancouver Police are also investigating the rally for expressions of solidarity with terrorist organizations.

B.C. NDP leader David Eby, who had condemned the rally’s violent rhetoric, expressed his agreement with the federal decision, calling it a necessary measure against the rise of antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents.

Being a listed terrorist entity in Canada means that it is illegal to support or fund any of Samidoun's activities, and its assets are subject to seizure.