‘Disgusted’ immigration minister looking into revoking citizenship of Toronto terror suspect

August 14, 2024 Canuck

The federal government is looking at whether the citizenship of a man accused of planning a terror attack in Toronto should be revoked, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Wednesday.

“I’m as disgusted as any Canadian. But I have a responsibility to get to the bottom of it and I will,” he said during a morning news conference in Church Point, N.S.

“I’m also going to take the next step, which is to start the preliminary work with the evidence at hand to look at whether the individual in question’s citizenship should be revoked.”

Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, 62, and his son Mostafa Eldidi, 26, face multiple charges including conspiracy to commit murder for the benefit or at the direction of a terrorist group. They were arrested on July 28.

WATCH | MPs push to investigate how terror suspects got into Canada:

MPs push to investigate how terror suspects got into Canada

14 hours ago

2:41

WARNING: Video contains descriptions of graphic violence | MPs unanimously voted in favour of an investigation into how Ahmed and Mostafa Eldidi — a father and son accused of plotting a terrorist attack in Toronto — got into Canada. Especially in light of a graphic ISIS video allegedly linked to the father from years earlier.

Police said they were “in the advanced stages of planning a serious, violent attack in Toronto.”

The father, who is also accused of committing an aggravated assault in 2015 for the benefit of the Islamic State somewhere outside of Canada, has Canadian citizenship, say authorities. Police said the son does not have citizenship.

Authorities have said part of the case is a graphic video, allegedly showing Ahmed Eldidi taking part in that assault.

Officials have not confirmed whether the senior Eldidi received citizenship before or after the alleged assault abroad.

Mostafa Eldidi, 26, seen in this undated Facebook photo. (Facebook)

When asked about the timeline on Wednesday, Miller said he would “like to give a better answer, frankly, today and I don’t have one.”

The minister said he’s ordered his deputy minister to review the timeline of events, including what was known and when.

“I hope to be able to provide answers in a relatively short timeline about what happened,” he told reporters.

Miller added that he may be limited in what he can disclose, given the ongoing court case.

“Canadians deserve answers,” he said.

WATCH | Miller looking at whether citizenship ‘should be revoked’ from Toronto terror accused

Miller looking at whether citizenship ‘should be revoked’ from Toronto terror accused

2 hours ago

Duration 1:18

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says he wants to know ‘who knew what, when and how’ in regards to the granting of citizenship to a man with ties to ISIS now facing terrorism charges.

A person’s Canadian citizenship can be revoked if it was obtained by false representation, fraud or knowingly concealing material circumstances.

Under Canadian law, the Federal Court rules on all revocation matters unless the person requests that the minister act as the decision maker.

That provision was implemented following controversial changes to the Citizenship Act during the Liberal government’s first term.

The Liberals campaigned on a promise to change how citizenship revocation works, repealing many of the previous Conservative government’s changes. The ensuing debate spawned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s famous “a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian” line.

In 2017, that bill received royal assent, ridding the Citizenship Act of a provision that strips dual citizens of their Canadian status if convicted of terrorism, treason or espionage.

On Tuesday, a parliamentary committee agreed to investigate the case amid questions about the immigration screening process for both men.

The accused are scheduled to be back in court later this week.

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