Months after being designated a terrorist organization in Canada, Samidoun is still enjoying non-profit status.The group, also known as the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, has had similar privileges revoked in numerous other countries around the world, including the United States.Samidoun was listed as a terrorist entity in Canada on October 15, 2024. That same day, the United States declared Samidoun a "sham charity," and suspended its tax exempt status."Organizations like Samidoun masquerade as charitable actors that claim to provide humanitarian support to those in need, yet in reality divert funds for much-needed assistance to support terrorist groups," Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley Smith said. "The United States, together with Canada and our like-minded partners, will continue to disrupt those who seek to finance the PFLP, Hamas, and other terrorist organizations."Then-Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc vowed to "do everything in our power to ensure robust measures are in place to address terrorist financing.".Among those who has questioned why the Liberals have not acted to take away Samidoun's non-profit status is Senator Leo Housakos.."What's the point of listing Samidoun as a terrorist organization if they continue to operate in the streets of Canada, continue to operate and recruit and travel back and forth, and, of course, most egregiously, also still have status of a non-profit organization?" he asked during Senate Question Period on June 25. "How are these two things congruent with one another?"Now-former Sen. Marc Gold explained that giving or withdrawing non-profit status is "primarily in the hands of the [Canada Revenue Agency]," and as such, it "has not been the practice or policy of this or previous governments ... of directing them what to do.""The incongruity that you underline may very well be a function of the different decision-making authorities over these two matters," he added. "It's certainly a matter that I will reflect upon and bring to the attention of the government."Housakos said he agreed with Gold that it wasn't their job to direct the CRA, but maintained that such agencies should "respect the wishes of the Canadian government when we list terrorist organizations.".The move to designate Samidoun as a terrorist organization had been a long time coming, but footage of supporters chanting "Death to Canada" and burning Canadian flags at a protest in Vancouver at an October 7 anniversary protest a week earlier prompted the government to take action..WATCH: Anti-Israel demonstrators burn Canadian flags in Vancouver.In front of the crowd at the Art Gallery, a woman with a megaphone chanted, "Israel burn burn, Palestinians will return" as a group set another Canadian flag on fire before tearing it apart. Others soon joined in, igniting more flags and throwing them on the ground. Numerous attendees went out of their way to stomp on the remains.Samidoun co-founder Charlotte Kates and her husband, Khaled Bakarat, have remained active and devoted supporters of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Iranian regime.
