An Alberta judge has ordered two Edmonton women, Helena Carson, 35, and Dina Kalouti, 43, to undergo six months of deradicalization counselling after their return to Canada from the collapsing Islamic State caliphate in Syria.
The ruling by Justice Suzanne Polkosnik follows an RCMP application for a terrorism peace bond aimed at addressing potential security risks posed by the pair, who lived in ISIS-controlled territory from 2015 to 2019.
Carson and Kalouti’s misadventure began about 10 years ago when they left Edmonton for Syria, allegedly drawn by the extremist ideology of the Islamic State at the height of its power. They remained in the region until the terror group’s territorial defeat in 2019, when they were captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces amid the chaos of the caliphate’s final days.
Detained in a camp for ISIS associates, the women spent years in limbo before their repatriation to Canada in July 2023, a move facilitated by diplomatic efforts and humanitarian considerations. Upon their return, the RCMP launched an investigation to assess their activities abroad and any ongoing threat they might pose.
While neither woman has been charged with a specific criminal offence related to their time with ISIS, the peace bond reflects a preventive approach under Canada’s anti-terrorism laws.
The court heard that both admitted to residing in ISIS territory, though details of their roles remain undisclosed to the public. The RCMP argued that counselling was necessary to ensure their reintegration into society does not compromise public safety.
Polkosnik’s ruling mandates participation in a tailored deradicalization program run by the Organization for the Prevention of Violence (OPV) in Edmonton, a group specializing in countering extremism.
The six-month program will include psychological support, ideological reprogramming, and regular monitoring to assess progress.
“This is about balancing public safety with rehabilitation,” said an RCMP spokesperson. “We’re not just locking people away — we’re trying to address the root causes.”