Charges have been laid against a 25-year-old Burnaby man who Mounties allege left the country to join Islamist fighters in Syria.
In an emailed statement, the RCMP confirmed that on July 17, Burnaby resident Hasibullah Yusufzai was charged for allegedly travelling overseas “to take part in terrorist activity” by B.C.’s division of the RCMP Integrated National Security Enforcement Team.
“The accused is being sought for leaving Canada in January 21, 2014, to commit an offence for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a terrorist group, contrary to section 83.201 of the Criminal Code,” read the statement.
This is the first time someone in Canada has been charged under section 83.201 of the Criminal Code – a new tool available to the RCMP to “fight terrorism,” according to the statement.
The criminal charge is part of Canada's Anti-terrorism Act, known as Bill S-7 or the Combatting Terrorism Act, which was given Royal Assent in April 2013. According to the Department of Justice, the act allows Criminal Code charges to be laid against individuals who leave or attempt to leave Canada to commit a terrorism offence.
Police allege Yusufzai left Canada on Jan. 21 but his current whereabouts are unknown at this time. While RCMP say they won’t comment further on the investigation as it is on going at this time, the statement did say officers would be working “actively” with international partners.
“This investigation underscores the reality that there are individuals leaving Canada to take part in terrorist activity. Further, it highlights the fact that new legislation introduced under Bill S-7, which came into effect in July 2013, enhances our ability to combat terrorist activity. These charges reaffirm the RCMP’s resolve to aggressively pursue terrorist acts to the fullest extent of the law,” Assistant RCMP Commissioner James Malizia said in the release.
