Canada is set to release its internal critical review on how two men with reported ties to ISIS were allowed to enter the country despite serious security concerns.
The report, scheduled for release in two weeks, follows the arrests of 62-year-old Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi and his 26-year-old son, Mostafa Eldidi, in Richmond Hill, Ontario. They face terrorism charges, including conspiracy to commit murder on behalf of ISIS.
The case has sparked significant controversy and concern, particularly among the official opposition party, who have questioned how a man with alleged ties to ISIS managed to enter Canada and evade detection during two separate national security screenings.
The elder Eldidi, who is now facing charges of aggravated assault linked to a 2015 incident outside Canada, allegedly participated in a promotional video for ISIS, where he was seen committing a violent act that experts have said likely constitutes a war crime.
The fact that he was granted Canadian citizenship and allowed to enter the country has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of Canada's immigration and security vetting processes.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller addressed these concerns, stating that the federal government is actively investigating whether Eldidi’s citizenship should be revoked.
"I'm as disgusted as any Canadian. But I have a responsibility to get to the bottom of it, and I will," Miller said during a morning news conference.
According to reports the RCMP's investigation and subsequent arrests of the Eldidis were triggered by a tip-off from French intelligence authorities – further increasing criticism of Canada’s intelligence services.
The RCMP has stated that the father and son were in the "advanced stages of planning a serious, violent attack in Toronto," with a machete and axe found in their possession at the time of their arrest.
The case has intensified scrutiny over Canada’s ability to prevent individuals with ties to terrorist organizations from entering the country. Just this month, another incident further compounded these concerns when 20-year-old Muhammad Shahzeb Khan was arrested near the US border in Quebec, allegedly planning a terrorist attack targeting Jews in New York City.
These events have sparked a growing debate over the issuance of visas and the overall security measures in place to screen individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities.
Opposition House Leader Andrew Scheer has called the situation a “colossal failure,” demanding that a parliamentary committee investigate how Eldidi gained entry into Canada. The federal New Democrats have echoed this call, with MP Alistair MacGregor requesting that the ministers responsible for immigration and public safety appear before the committee.
Canada’s handling of Iranian regime officials
As it pertains to Iran, the Canadian government has identified Tehran as a regime that engages in terrorism and systematic or gross human rights violations. In response, Ottawa has taken steps to block senior regime officials from entering the country. Initially, in November 2022, Canada made officials who served in the Iranian regime from November 15, 2019, onward inadmissible.
This measure was later expanded to include officials dating back to June 23, 2003, the day Iranian-Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi was detained, tortured, and killed by state forces.
Last year, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) reported denying entry to numerous senior officials from the Iranian government. Since the implementation of these measures, the CBSA has been investigating approximately 100 individuals with status in Canada for potential connections to Tehran.
While dozens of individuals have been denied entry to Canada, there have been concerns raised by the Iranian diaspora that the deportations of individuals already in Canada, with ties to the regime, are not moving quickly enough.
In an interview with Iran International, Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, stressed that Canada should not become a haven for the terrorist activities of the IRGC or the Islamic Republic’s proxy forces. He further stated that those who act as saboteurs for the Islamic Republic have no place in Canada.
While it remains unclear whether the forthcoming review will also address concerns related to Iranian regime officials on Canadian soil, the expanded scrutiny reflects Canada’s broader efforts to prevent potential threats from entering the country.