Hassan Farhat
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Born in Iraq, Hassan Farhat (Abdul Jaber, Abdul Jabbar, Abu Ossama, Abu Khalid) was the Canadian founder and Imam of Salaheddin Mosque in Scarborough, Ontario.[1]
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has accused the landed immigrant[1] of being a "senior member" of Ansar al-Islam, as well as belonging to Egyptian Islamic Jihad. It is alleged he may have recruited Saeed and Masoud Rasoul to fight with Ansar al-Islam in Iraq.[1]
In 1996, he helped Mahmoud Jaballah find an apartment in Toronto, and Jaballah subsequently connected his private school with the mosque from 1997-2002.[2] Farhat later moved to Winnipeg, Montreal and then back to Toronto.[2] It was at his apartment in Montreal, following the birth of his child, that Mahmoud Jaballah and Mustafa Krer had their only Montreal meeting.[3]
Upset that he was unable to receive Canadian citizenship, Farhat returned to Iraq in October 2001.[1]
Osman Ali, an 18-year-old member of Ansar al-Islam detained in prison in Sulaymaniya, spoke to reporter Sandro Contenta from the Toronto Star in March 2003. He told her that his commander was Farhat, and that he told his group that he left Canada because the police accused him of having ties to al Qaeda.[1] It was later alleged that he commanded "Al-Aqsa Battalion", a grouip of 80 militants and six suicide bombers.[2]
He was captured in 2003 by the People's Union of Kurdistan.[2]
On March 7, 2005, he and Saeed Rasoul were named by CSIS Director Jim Judd in remarks to the Canadian Senate, that Farhat "is believed to be a key commander and ideologue with" Ansar al-Islam and that Saeed was "believed to be a member".[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Shephard, Michelle and Tonda MacCharles. Toronto Star, "CSIS say Scarborough mosque founder linked to Al-Qaeda", March 9 2005
- ^ a b c d MacLeon, Ian. Ottawa Citizen, "The warning lights were all blinking red", February 23 2008
- ^ Hanes, Allison. National Post, "Jaballah claims purely innocent dealings with other terror suspects, July 12 2006
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