July 19, 2024
TORONTO – B’nai Brith Canada and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) issued a joint statement [link to website when available] Friday renewing their call for the Federal Government to list the Houthi movement as a terrorist entity.
The Yemen-based “Ansar Allah” party, otherwise known as the Houthis, are a Shiite faction in the country’s civil war. In recent years, the group has become one of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s most powerful terrorist proxies, developing ballistic missile capabilities and carrying out numerous atrocities against civilians.
“Designating Ansar Allah as a terrorist entity would bring Canada in line with actions already undertaken by its allies and the global community,” the joint statement says. “The time is now for the Canadian Government to act. Canada must formally recognize Ansar Allah for what they really are: a terrorist organization and a threat to international security.”
The Houthis have engaged in regular attacks on international shipping since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. In their statement, B’nai Brith and FSWC cited an unprecedented drone strike Thursday targeting Tel Aviv, which killed one civilian and injured about 10 others. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack.
“We [B’nai Brith and FSWC] are speaking out because we are alarmed by Ansar Allah’s growing military capabilities and the escalating threat they pose to global security,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy. “We have been calling for the Government to list this violent, Iranian-sponsored group for years. The latest spate of incidents demonstrates the immediate need for action.”
