Barry Ellsworth
26 June 2019•Update: 26 June 2019
TRENTON, Canada
Two right-wing extremist organizations Wednesday were added by Canada to its list of terrorist groups.
Blood and Honour was characterized by the government as “an international neo-Nazi network whose ideology is derived from the National Socialist doctrine of Nazi Germany.”
Combat 18 is part of Blood and Honour, its killing unit, as described on the Public Safety Canada website, that “has carried out violent actions, including murders and bombings.”
Wednesday’s announcement marks the first time that right-wing extremist groups have been added to the Canadian terrorist list.
“I’m hoping this is just the beginning and that there will be more, but it is a really good first start for Canada,” said Bernie Farber, head of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. He called the two groups “extremely violent neo-Nazi organizations.”
Others were added as well to the list, including three Shia militant organizations that receive support from Iran.
Al-Ashtar Brigades aims to overthrow Bahrain’s Sunni monarchy, while Harakat al-Sabireen has been active in the Gaza Strip for five years, the Canadian government said.
The other organization, Fatemiyoun Division, is fighting in Syria and is “comprised mainly of Afghan recruits from Iran and Afghanistan.”
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service issued its annual report on Friday, characterizing right-wing extremism as “driven by hatred and fear” and its members are “a complex range of individuals, subcultures and online communities.
“These individuals and groups cultivate grievances on issues as varied as gender, race religion, sexual orientation and immigration.”
With the addition of the five organizations, the Canadian terrorist list numbers about 59, including Daesh, Al Shabaab and the PKK.
