Returnees: Bill returns controversy to Canadian arena

Written by: Nahla Abdel Moneim

The political debate has re-escalated in Canada with regard to the problem of dealing with the citizens of the state who have been involved in acts of violence and terrorism in Syria and Iraq in the past period, whether those who actually returned or who are still in Kurdish prisons in Syria waiting to be allowed to cross the borders of the country.

The debate on that issue has reached the parliament. A majority of members agreed yesterday to discuss a bill introduced by Conservative opposition lawmaker Dave Smith, including preventing returning extremists from entering the county of Ontario, which Smith represents.

In addition, Smith proposed stripping those elements of the benefits and rights enjoyed by citizens in the country, such as access to health insurance, driving licenses and social assistance, as well as criminal penalties for holding them accountable for what they had done.

The opposition parliamentarian also asked the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to present a plan within 45 days to try those criminals who had fought with Daesh and returned to live freely in the country. He pointed out that the Canadian government was not acting fast enough in this case.

Of course, a number of MPs agreed on this proposal and supported its effectiveness and the country’s need for it. They pointed to the need to put terrorists under surveillance, review their social networking sites and stop their integration into society. They also criticized the government’s poor performance in this issue (from their point of view) .

On the other hand, another movement criticized the bill. Liberal MP Natalie de Rozers pointed out that the government would not be able to impose such measures because of its difficulties and its opposition to other laws.

The Canadian government has been subjected to a lot of pressure over the past period; as a result of its use of the file of returnees in a way that did not satisfy the opposition. It allowed the fighters of Daesh to enter the country and coexist freely and tried only two of them.

According to the Observatory of Al-Azhar for Tafkiri Fatwas, there are about 190 people, who travelled from Canada to Daesh with 60% of them returned and yet there are two who have been dealt with judicially and two others are waiting to complete litigation proceedings.