In first for Canada, woman convicted for ‘family support' role in ISIS
Oumaima Chouay is the first of several Canadian women who were captured in Syria during the war against ISIS to be convicted of terrorism.
Chouay admitted to participating in the activities of a terrorist group. The Crown dismissed three other terrorism charges against her.
She must serve a single day in custody, in addition to the 110 days she was held before trial. She will also be on probation for three years.
'Ms. Chouay is the first person convicted for providing support to a terrorist entity through family support as a spouse,' the Public Prosecution Service of Canada said in a statement.
The sentence reflected her steps 'to demonstrate remorse, take responsibility, commit to fundamental change and a rejection of extremist ideology,' said Public Prosecution director George Dolhai.
Story continues below advertisement
3:16
ISIS resurgence fuelled by youth recruitment
In a joint statement of facts, Chouay said she left Canada for Turkey in October 2014 and crossed into Syria with the aim of joining ISIS.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Less than a month later, she married Dominic Alexander Reitz, a German citizen 'who was also a member of the Islamic State,' according to the document.
She initially lived in Mosul, Iraq, where ISIS gave her a house. Her husband also received an allowance from the terrorist group.
On Feb. 2, 2015, Chouay made the ISIS flag her Facebook profile picture. She then changed it to a photo of a woman in a niqab handling a firearm.
Around this time, she reconnected on Facebook with her Canadian friends and confided that she was living in ISIS-controlled territory.
Story continues below advertisement
She told them she had 'no intention of returning to a country of kuffars,' according to the statement, using the Arabic term for non-believers and infidels.
Chouay then moved to Tel Afar, Iraq, where ISIS gave her a new home that had been taken from Shiites, who opposed the Islamic State.
Just over a year after joining ISIS, Chouay gave birth to her first child with Reitz. She returned to Mosul and then returned to Syria.
As ISIS began to lose ground to Kurdish fighters backed by an international coalition, Chouay told her mother she wanted to leave, the document said.
2:55
How an Edmonton couple allegedly left Canada to join ISIS
She was captured by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in November 2017 after trying to flee ISIS territory. She then gave birth to a second child. The Canadian government flew her home in October 2022.
Story continues below advertisement
She was arrested upon her arrival and charged with four terrorism offences.
Two other women brought back to Canada from camps for ISIS captives, B.C. resident Kimberly Polman and Ontario's Ammara Ahmad, have also been charged and are awaiting trial.
The rest have not been charged, although most were placed on terrorism peace bonds that imposed restrictions on them in the name of public safety.
The preamble of the joint statement of facts in the case described what it called the 'distinct' role women played in ISIS before its collapse in Syria in 2019.
While men joined 'with the goal of becoming fighters,' women were expected to take part in security, defense, fundraising and propaganda, it said.
'One of the main roles of women in the caliphate, generally described by the Islamic State as supporting their fighting husbands, is to ensure and maintain morality and religious faith at home, as well as to raise and educate their children under the values of the Islamic State in order to create the next generation of fighters,' the statement said.
'The presence of women in the territories conquered by the Islamic State also allows this terrorist group to increase its capacity to recruit men. The contribution of women is essential to achieve the ultimate goal of this terrorist group: to create an Islamic state.'
Story continues below advertisement
Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
How Texas Democrats' walkout has launched a fight across the US over political maps
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A weeklong walkout by Texas House Democrats is blocking redrawn congressional maps sought by President Donald Trump and put in motion a broadening fight across the U.S. over redistricting. There is still no swift end in sight to the standoff that has scattered dozens of Texas Democrats to Illinois, New York and California, where they have been given a warm reception by blue state governors and national party leaders. As the holdout has dragged on, Texas Republicans have ratcheted up the pressure to try compelling them back. GOP state leaders have asked courts to remove absent Democratic lawmakers from office, issued civil arrest warrants and mobilized state troopers. It is a political fight that has now spanned in state legislatures across the nation — from California to Florida — as Trump seeks to gain more winnable U.S. House seats and preserve the GOP's slim majority after the 2026 midterm elections. Here's what to know. How the Texas walkout began On Aug. 3, Texas House Democrats fled to Illinois, Massachusetts and New York to stop the GOP-controlled state legislature from passing new U.S. House maps that would give Texas Republicans more winnable seats in 2026. The chamber needs at least 100 of its 150 members to do businesses. The Democratic Party has taken advantage of this by orchestrating the majority of its 62 members to remain outside the state. On Friday, there were 95 members present — five short of a quorum. Congressional maps are typically redrawn once every 10 years to coincide with population shifts captured by the census and is rare for it to occur in the middle of the decade. Democrats say the unusual mid-cycle redistricting is a partisan power grab by the Trump administration What other states are doing California Gov. Gavin Newsom is scrambling to call for a November special election to ask voters to redraw the state's maps in retaliation if Texas proceeds. Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York and JB Pritzker of Illinois have also said they would consider partisan redistricting. Republicans are considering their own countereffort, too. In Florida, the speaker of the house said the chamber will take up this issue in a special redistricting committee this fall, and Vice President JD Vance met with Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Braun to discuss redistricting. How Texas Republicans are trying to punish Democrats Texas Democrats face fines of up to $500 each day they are absent from the chamber, a rule that was adopted after the party walked in 2021 over a bill that tightened voting restrictions. Abbott asked the state Supreme Court to vacate the office of the House Democratic leader. Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday asked the court to remove 13 members who walked out from office, on top of issuing civil arrest warrants. Democratic lawmakers have largely scoffed at threats of their arrests and attempts to remove them from office. The special session ends on Aug. 19. The governor has threatened to keep calling lawmakers into special sessions until Democrats return. What is at stake For Trump, gaining additional Republican-leaning districts can help him potentially avoid a repeat of the 2018 midterms, when Democrats reclaimed the U.S. House and proceeded to thwart his agenda and impeach him twice. Republicans currently hold 219 seats, and Democrats have 212. Four seats are vacant. Republicans hold 25 of Texas' 38 congressional seats and are seeking to pick up five more. ___ Lathan is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Global News
5 hours ago
- Global News
Changes at Kelowna's tent city believed responsible for more visible homelessness crisis downtown
The homelessness crisis in downtown Kelowna, B.C., has become more visible in recent months. 'They are not hidden,' Kelowna Chamber of Commerce CEO George Greenwood said, referring to the unhoused population. 'They are right on main streets and in doorways and in parks and everywhere else where the general public is walking.' Greenwood told Global News the Chamber is fielding calls regularly from concerned business members over what appears to be an increase in loitering, public drug use, vandalism and other crime-related incidents. 'It feels like they multiplied in numbers but they didn't,' Greenwood said. 'They just went from one location to another.' The location Greenwood is referring to is the outdoor sheltering site, more commonly known as tent city, in the downtown's north end, where earlier in the year, the city made some major changes in an effort to get a better handle on safety at the growing site. Story continues below advertisement Some of the changes made at the end of March involved a significant reduction in the size of the site, including capping the number of tents allowed at 60. The city also designated a portion of tent city as an overnight area only. 2:14 City of Kelowna imposing new restrictions on tent encampment It appears the new rules may have pushed more people, who once sheltered there 24-7, into the downtown core. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to some business operators, that has led to an uptick in crime-related problem impacting businesses. 'Since the rail trail has had its change and there's new rules there…we've had an increase back into our parking lot,' said Train Station Pub co-owner Rhonda Lindsay. Last week, the pub's security camera captured a man walking by and throwing a glass bottle, with full force, at the pub's patio. Story continues below advertisement The video shows shards of glass flying over top of the outdoor dining area. Luckily no one was hurt. The incident was the final straw for the pub owners, who have now launched an online petition at to call on the province to take the matter more seriously. 'We've had lip service for years, ' said pub co-owner David Lindsay. 'We've met with the city and RCMP and again there's only so much in their hands. We need to take this up the flag pole and the province needs to get serious about it.' As of Friday afternoon, the petition had more than 1,000 signatures. Staff at the Metro Liquor Store in the downtown north end echoed Lindsay's sentiments, saying they too have noticed a lot more problems since changes were made at tent city. 'Just a lot more loitering and open drug use, especially in this area, ' said Metro Liquor assistant manager Corey Tingle. 'We've seen a massive uptick in our patrons getting bothered in and around the parking lot.' 2:06 Penticton homeless encampment feud The city said it is working closely with the business community to minimize any impact due to the changes. Story continues below advertisement 'I think it would be naïve of me to say that it has no impact whatsoever,' said Nick Bonnett, bylaw services supervisor with the city. 'I don't want to downplay at all the experience of the business community. It is very real.' However, Bonnett said it's also the timing of the changes, which have played a role in what appears to be increased homelessness across the downtown. 'The timing of when the changes were made at the designated overnight sheltering site happen to correspond to a time of year when we tend to see some very typical and expected movement within our community,' Bonnett said. 'Springtime tends to be a time of movement.' Many businesses along with the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce say they appreciate the city's efforts to tackle homelessness within its legal power. 'I really commend the city for all of the efforts they're doing,' Greenwood said. ' They have limited resources. 'This falls squarely on the on the province and the federal government. In an email to Global News, the ministry of public safety and solicitor general stated the ministry is working with all stakeholders to improve safety in all communities around the province. It added that Terry Yung, minister of state for community safety and integrated services was in Kelowna in March to talk with local government and the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce about this issue.
Vancouver Sun
6 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
U.S. more than doubles Canadian softwood duties, starting immediately
The U.S. Department of Commerce says it has made a final decision to more than double countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports, a move business groups in British Columbia say will harm communities on both sides of the border. A statement from the American department says the duty for most Canadian companies is being increased to 14.63 per cent, up from 6.74 per cent, after it determined softwood lumber from Canada was being unfairly subsidized. The increase is on top of a recent jump in anti-dumping duties to 20.56 per cent, bring the total duty level for Canadian softwood to 35.19 per cent. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The department says it will now instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to begin collecting the money. Kurt Niquidet, president of the BC Lumber Trade Council, says in a statement that the decision places unnecessary strain on forestry-dependent regions in Canada while driving up construction costs for American builders. The council says both the Canadian and U.S. governments need to make resolving the long-standing softwood lumber dispute a top economic priority. 'In the absence of a negotiated settlement, BCLTC will continue working closely with the Government of Canada and industry partners to defend Canadian interests through all available legal channels, including proceedings under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,' the statement says. The BC Council of Forest Industries says the provincial government needs to take action including streamlining permitting processes, activating provincial timber sales and removing cross-ministry bottlenecks. 'With the right policy tools, B.C. can send a strong message that it is committed to creating a climate where primary and secondary forest manufacturers want to invest, ensuring a steady supply of wood products for B.C., Canada, and beyond,' president Kim Haakstad said in a statement. Prime Minister Mark Carney was in B.C. this week promising $700 million in loan guarantees for the industry and $500 million for long-term supports to help companies diversify export markets and develop their products. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
