OTTAWA,
ON, June 19, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the
Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic
Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced that the
Government of Canada has listed
the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity
under the Criminal Code, effective today.
Based on their actions, there are reasonable grounds to believe
that the IRGC has knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out,
participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity, or has
knowingly acted on behalf of, at the direction of, or in
association with an entity that has knowingly carried out terrorist
activity. Listing the IRGC means that they are a terrorist
group.
The decision to list the IRGC through the Criminal
Code listing regime sends a strong message that
Canada will use all tools at its
disposal to combat the terrorist activity of the IRGC, conducted
both unilaterally and in knowing association with listed terrorist
entities such as Hizballah and Hamas.
As a now-listed entity, the IRGC meets the definition of a
"terrorist group" under Canada's
Criminal Code. As an immediate consequence of this listing,
Canadian financial institutions, such as banks and brokerages, are
required to immediately freeze the property of a listed entity. It
is a criminal offence for anyone in Canada and Canadians abroad to knowingly deal
with property owned or controlled by a terrorist group.
Listing can also assist Canadian security, intelligence and law
enforcement agencies to combat terrorism, including by helping to
facilitate the laying of terrorism charges against perpetrators and
supporters of terrorism. The terrorist listings mechanism plays a
key role in countering terrorist financing. A listing can also help
block sympathizers in Canada from
providing assistance to terrorist groups.
Today's listing builds on Canada's previous actions, which were already
some of the strongest in the world against the Iranian regime,
including:
- The Government of Canada has
listed several terrorist entities that have benefited from the
IRGC's patronage and that have helped advance Iran's interests and foreign policy. These
include Hizballah, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the
Taliban. Furthermore, in June 2019,
Canada added three new
Iran-backed groups to the
Criminal Code terrorist list: the Al-Ashtar Brigades,
Harakat al-Sabireen, and the Fatemiyoun Division.
- In November 2022, Canada designated the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regime that has
engaged in terrorism and systematic or gross human rights
violations. As a result, under the Immigration and Refugee
Protection Act, thousands of senior Iranian government
officials, including top IRGC members, are inadmissible to
Canada. In addition to being
banned from entering the country, current and former senior Iranian
government officials who are in Canada may be investigated and removed.
- Since October 2022, Canada has imposed 18 rounds of sanctions
under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations and the Justice for
Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (JVCFOA) to target
individuals and entities involved in gross and systematic
violations of human rights and threats to international peace and
security. A total of 200 Iranian individuals and 250 Iranian
entities are listed under Special Economic Measures Act
(SEMA) and the JVCFOA. These measures effectively freeze any assets
the listed individuals and entities may hold in Canada.
The Government of Canada will
continue to fight terrorist threats to Canada, people in Canada and its interests around the world.
Quote
"The Iranian regime has consistently displayed a complete
disregard for human rights, both inside and outside Iran, as well as a willingness to destabilize
the international rules-based order. Listing the IRGC builds on
the Government of Canada's
broader efforts to ensure that there is no impunity for
Iran's unlawful actions and its
support of terrorism. Our government will always promote human
rights and take action against those seeking to disrupt our way of
life, here in Canada and around
the world."
- The Honourable Dominic
LeBlanc, Minister of Minister of Public Safety, Democratic
Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
Quick Facts
- There are several offences in the Criminal Code that
address conduct in connection with terrorist groups. For example,
the Criminal Code prohibits dealing in any property
(including money) owned or controlled by terrorist groups or to
provide any financial services (such as services offered by banks
and money services business) for the benefit of or at the direction
of a terrorist group.
- With this addition, there are now 77 terrorist entities listed
under the Criminal Code.
- To ensure the list of terrorist entities remains up-to-date, a
comprehensive review of each entity occurs within five years from
June 21, 2019 if listed before that
date or if listed on or after June
21,2019, within five years of the date of its being listed
to determine whether it should remain on the list, and subsequently
within every five years of the most recent recommendation to list
with respect to each listed entity. Following the Government's
recent review, it has assessed 47 entities to determine whether
they should remain on the list. It was concluded that
the Groupe islamique armé (GIA) should be delisted as it is
now defunct. The other 46 entities, including the IRGC's Qods
Force, continue to meet the threshold for listing.
Associated Links
- Currently listed entities
- Canada's response to the
Islamic Republic of Iran
- Listing process
SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada