World

Canada Suspends, Fines Muslim Group Over Possible Support Of Terrorists

REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

David Krayden Ottawa Bureau Chief
Font Size:

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has suspended and fined a major Muslim group because the organization may have “directly or indirectly” supported terrorists with its contributions.

As Global News reports, the CRA took the action after a major audit of the Islamic Society Of North America-Canada (ISNA-Canada) and its activities. The group must cease all “overseas operations” for one year and has been fined $550,000.

CRA auditors faulted ISNA-Canada because it had “failed to conduct any meaningful due diligence” after it sent $136,000 to India’s Kashmir region that has seen the Hizbul Mujahideen conduct terrorist actions against the Indian Army.

The auditors suggested the ISNA-Canada didn’t bother to ask questions about where the money would be going and who would be accessing it and “may have, knowingly or unknowingly, provided the benefits of its status as a registered charity to support the efforts of a political party and its armed wing,” according to a report obtained by Global.

“It is the CRA’s view that the society’s resources may have, directly or indirectly, been used the support the political efforts of Jamaat-e-Islami and/or its armed wing Hizbul Mujahideen,” the document continues.

In a statement, ISNA-Canada said, “We are saddened by this outcome.”

The organization denying claims that it aids terrorists and said it had already made significant changes to the way it conducts business and “how we operate as one of the largest Muslim organizations in Canada.”

Follow David on Twitter