Canada’s national security blind spot: the case of Samidoun

About six months ago, a detailed investigative report from NBC News brought to the public's attention the scattered data linking Samidoun—a Canadian-registered nonprofit—to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. NBC reported that several think tanks in Europe and Israel say Samidoun’s leadership is composed of current and former members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which the Canadian government has been designated as a terrorist organization since 2003. Alarmingly, this issue has received little attention in Canadian media. Only a few voices—such as Terry Glavin in the National Post—have highlighted that this nonprofit was seemingly left unchecked to glorify the atrocities of terrorist groups with impunity on Canadian soil. Despite this heightened awareness, Samidoun continues to operate freely, posing a potential threat to this country's national security. M. Mehdi Moradi is a seasoned Iranian-Canadian social activist and freelance journalist. Photograph courtesy of M. Mehdi Moradi Both the NBC and National Post reports show that Samidoun is far from a benign advocacy group. It serves as a critical node in the PFLP’s global network, engaging in anti-Israel propaganda, fundraising, and recruiting activists—efforts that directly support the PFLP’s agenda. This aligns with Israel’s 2021 designation of Samidoun as a terrorist organization due to its role in advancing the PFLP’s objectives. The gravity of this situation becomes even more pronounced considering that the PFLP’s military wing claimed participation in the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel. Tellingly, members of Samidoun’s leadership did not respond to NBC's multiple requests for comment, raising further suspicions about the group’s activities. Samidoun's history of glorifying terrorist groups extends beyond its ties to the PFLP. In 2021, the group condemned the United Kingdom’s designation of Hamas—a designated terrorist organization in Canada since 2002—framing it as a “liberation” movement. Following the July 2024 assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Samidoun publicly praised him, advancing their glorification of notorious terrorist leaders. The group's YouTube account also has a documented history of pro-Hamas content, while continuing to organize rallies under the guise of “Palestinian solidarity.” This influence extends beyond social media, as Google and Meta recently suspended Samidoun’s main account and several affiliated accounts, highlighting its widespread reach and support for terrorist groups. A particularly disturbing development occurred in April this year when Charlotte Kates, the international coordinator for Samidoun, was arrested in Vancouver after praising Hamas for the Oct. 7 massacre, calling it “heroic and brave.” Released without charges but banned from protests for five months, Kates then safely traveled to Iran where the brutal Islamic regime awarded her a "human rights" trophy. While in Tehran, she brazenly repeated her praise for the Oct. 7 atrocity on Iranian state television. Such public endorsement of terrorism by a Samidoun leader is appalling, laying bare the hypocrisy of glorifying mass murder under the guise of justice advocacy. This situation is particularly concerning in light of a recent investigative report suggesting that the Islamic regime in Iran may have orchestrated anti-Israel protests at a Canadian university. Notably, Samidoun has a strong presence on both American and Canadian campuses where they have been involved in encampments, demonstrations, riots, and promotion of pro-PFLP and pro-Hamas symbols, speakers, and literature. The overlap in agendas between Samidoun, state actors like Iran, and these ongoing campus movements raises serious concerns, and calls for deep reflection on the implications of such alliances. Despite all these alarming signs, Canadian authorities—including the RCMP, CSIS, and the Canada Border Services Agency—seem to have turned a blind eye to Samidoun’s activities, even as Israeli intelligence officials have reportedly and continuously briefed them on the matter. Germany’s response offers a sharp contrast to Canada's inaction. Last November, the German government banned all Hamas-related activities—including those of Samidoun—citing the group’s antisemitic propaganda, and celebration of terrorist attacks. Germany’s decisive measure highlights our nation's apparent complacency. Even Belgium—typically reserved in taking such steps—is in the process of revoking the asylum status of Samidoun’s Europe coordinator due to his PFLP ties and extremist hate preaching. In Canada's political landscape, it seems odd that perhaps only Kevin Vuong, the independent MP for Spadina–Fort York, Ont., has consistently highlighted the serious threat posed by Samidoun—even endorsing a recent House of Commons petition to ban the group and prevent Canada from becoming a safe haven for terrorism. Despite mounting evidence of the group's extremist activities, and ties to the interests and voices of terror networks, most politicians in this country remain conspicuously silent, unwilling to challenge the government's failure to act. This inaction raises critical questions about our nation’s commitment to counterterrorism. If Samidoun’s positions remain unchallenged, what does that say about how seriously Canada enforces its terrorism designations of groups like the PFLP and Hamas? If sections of the Criminal Code on advocating or promoting genocide are neglected, what would stop a similar nonprofit from registering here tomorrow? For instance, what if an organization that openly endorses the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps—a recently listed terrorist entity in Canada—were to establish itself in this country despite the regime having the blood of Canadians on its hands from the civilian airplane it tragically shot down in January 2020? The safety of Canadians and the integrity of our nation demand that we hold such groups accountable, rather than ignore security blind spots and compromise the ethical foundations of human rights advocacy—the soul of our democratic fabric. M. Mehdi Moradi is a seasoned Iranian-Canadian social activist and freelance journalist. The Hill Times

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Canada’s national security blind spot: the case of Samidoun

Samidoun serves as a critical node in the PFLP’s global network, engaging in anti-Israel propaganda, fundraising, and recruiting. But Canadian authorities seem to have turned a blind eye.

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