By Tom Quiggin, researcher at TSEC
(Originally published March 8, 2016 on TSEC Network. Re-printed with permission.)
Newly arrived Syrian refugees are already being embraced by extremist groups in Canada. The Government of Canada appears to be doing little to nothing to steer such individuals away from extremist groups or guide them towards the path of integration.
The Muslim Association of Canada, which claims on its own website to be followers of Hassan al Banna and the Muslim Brotherhood, is already involved. The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, is an Islamist group that believes their form of Islam should dominate all Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Their aim is a global caliphate that will dominate all others.
Note the following from a fund raising website:
The Muslim Association of Canada, a partner is (sic) Save A Family From Syria is sponsoring Syrian Refugees to settle in Toronto. The more money we raise, the more refugees we can sponsor. Please give generously. 100% of all the money we receive goes to the families.[1]
Not only is the Muslim Association of Canada involved, it is the Masjid Toronto that is specifically identified. This is made clear in the following:
The First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto has partnered with the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) and specifically their Masjid Toronto to work together to bring families to Toronto and settle them into a new life here in Canada.
A long time leader at the mosque, Dr El-tantawy Attia was asked about teachings at the Dundas Street mosque in Toronto. His views were:
“Here, we follow the teachings of the Muslim Brotherhood.”[2]
Al Jazeera, a Qatar based newspaper with open Muslim Brotherhood leanings did a “fluff” piece on the role of the Muslim Association of Canada and their sponsorship of refugee families.[3] It highlighted the fundraising as well as noting that it was the MAC drew up a shortlist of sponsorship candidates.
In Vancouver, Syrian refugees are being met by the Muslim Association of Canada. Rather ironically, after the arrival of the Syrian refugees, the MAC in Vancouver ran an event on “Islam vs. Terrorism: Debunking ISIS and al Qaida.” The speaker was Dr. Jamal Badawi.[4]Dr. Badawi was identified by the Muslim Brotherhood of North America has being on its board of directors (Shura Council). He was also identified in the 1991 General Memorandum as being a key figure in the future of the Muslim Brotherhood movement in North America.[5]
Who Did the Selection?
The number of Syrians arriving in Canada who are from refugee camps is apparently around 10%. Although Canadians thought they were ‘rescuing’ refugees, it turns out that about 90% of them were already living in homes or apartments.[6]
The question then arises: Who did the selection and made up the list of names of those to be interviewed for travel to Canada? This is not clear from either the Government of Canada or the UN. It is worth noting, however, that the head of the Political Bureau of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood is Hassan Hachimi. Mr. Hachimi, a Toronto based architect,[7]left Canada to become the head of the political bureau of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood[8], according to a statement by the Muslim Brotherhood.[9] Here in Canada, he was on the board of directors of the Muslim Association of Canada[10]and also on the board of directors for the Muslim World League (Canada).[11]
