On Monday, the Government of Canada announced that it finally decided to list Ansarallah, more commonly known as the Houthis, as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.
It’s unclear why it took so long. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken listed the group in January, which, when you think about it, came a bit late, considering that the Iranian-backed terrorist group openly declared after October 7 that it would support Hamas, another recognized terrorist entity, by targeting Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea.
Of course, since 2023, the Houthis haven’t just terrorized Israeli maritime trade. By June 2024, they had launched 190 attacks, affecting the interests of 65 countries, including Canada.
The fact that Canada waited so long to take this actions, and that some of our allies, including the United Kingdom, have still failed to do so, despite being engaged in military action against the Houthis, suggests that our leaders might need a little help determining when they’re dealing with a terrorist group.
So here are the five signs you’re probably dealing with a terrorist organization, for inexplicably confused world leaders:
- it’s backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps;
- its official slogan is, “Death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”;
- its members dance with AK-47s after commandeering maritime vessels;
- it supports Hamas, which murdered, raped and kidnapped civilians in Israel on October 7;
- its members film themselves planting explosives on oil tankers and sinking them as if they’re on holiday.
The announcement that the Houthis have finally been named a terrorist entity is good news, but it shouldn’t have taken this long. Likewise, the years of foot-dragging before Ottawa finally listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity last June made no logical sense.
Unless, of course, condemning the group that backs and funds other listed terror entities, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, is unpopular among those living in the sitting foreign affairs minister’s riding. I mean, who can tell why these decisions get delayed?
Hopefully, the designation will help. It requires Canadian financial institutions to freeze the property of listed entities. It criminalizes knowingly dealing with those properties. It makes it easier for our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism. Perhaps most importantly, it makes it a criminal offence to finance the group.
The government also says that this designation ensures that “persons seeking entry into Canada are inadmissible if they are found to be members of organizations engaged in terrorism.” Were customs agents happily stamping Houthi passports prior to this week?
It’s doubtful, however, that the distinction will allow any action to be taken against supporters of the Houthis or any other Iran-based terror proxies, who are becoming increasingly antisemitic and aggressive in Canada’s streets, often while covering their faces.
They have likely been emboldened by members of Parliament like the NDP’s Matthew Green, who cosplays as a Palestinian, draping himself in a keffiyeh, perhaps hoping his performance will curry favour amount his constituents.
Of course, he’s not the only Palestinian cosplayer. There’s also Heather McPherson, who gained a newfound love for watermelons since October 7. And who can forget Ontario MPPs Sarah Jama, Joel Harden and Kristyn Wong-Tam.
Recently, a man purposefully dressed up as deceased Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to intimidate members of a Jewish neighbourhood in Toronto. In Montreal, the manager of a Second Cup cafe at the Jewish General Hospital, of all places, chanted, “The final solution is coming,” during a rally at Concordia University, where, according her LinkedIn profile, she received her education. I can’t say I’m surprised.
It’s clearly time to start fining anyone who’s masked at protests or in neighbourhoods before things get completely out of control.
Monday’s addition of the Houthis brought the list of terrorist entities in Canada to a whopping 79. All but 11 are Islamic, eight are white supremacist, three are revolutionary communists or socialists, the Russian Imperial Movement is there and there is one Jewish group. Five of them are Palestinian and have been listed since 2003 — Hamas, PLF, PIJ, PLFP-GC and PFLP — which makes the Liberal government’s punitive actions towards Israel since October 7 all the more bewildering.
Why has our current government had such a hard time recognizing and listing similar terror groups? Who knows. But at least now they can’t feign ignorance any longer, as they have this helpful, common-sense guide.
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