Barran Press
On Monday, December 2, 2024, the Canadian government announced the addition of the Houthi movement to its list of terrorist entities, making Canada the fourth country to classify the Iran-backed group as a terrorist organization, following the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Dominique LeBlanc, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, stated that the government has officially designated Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthis, as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.
In a statement published on the Canadian government’s website, LeBlanc noted that the Houthis meet the definition of a "terrorist group" according to Canadian law. The Criminal Code prohibits certain activities related to terrorist organizations, including those involving financing, travel, and recruitment. For instance, knowingly dealing with property owned or controlled by a terrorist group is a criminal offense for anyone in Canada, including Canadians abroad.
Furthermore, providing property directly or indirectly, with the knowledge that it will be used by or benefit a terrorist group, is also a crime. Additionally, individuals deemed to be members of organizations involved in terrorism may be denied entry into Canada.
This designation will aid Canadian security and intelligence agencies in combating terrorism. The terrorist listing mechanism plays a crucial role in efforts to combat terrorist financing, according to the statement.
Minister LeBlanc remarked, “Adding Ansar Allah (the Houthis) today as a listed terrorist entity contributes to our global efforts to combat terrorism and aligns Canada with our allies.”
He emphasized that “acts of violent extremism and terrorism have no place in the world, and we will continue to take action to limit the spread of these activities internationally and address threats to Canada and its citizens and interests worldwide.”
Earlier, on November 20, 2024, New Zealand also classified the Houthis as a terrorist organization. On May 23, 2024, Australia designated the group as a terrorist entity under the 1995 Criminal Code due to the Houthis' attacks on international shipping lines since November. The United States had previously re-designated the Houthis as a "global terrorist organization" in January 2024 in response to their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, reversing a decision made by the Biden administration at the beginning of his presidency.