Bob Mackin
The Vancouver-based international coordinator of a group that Canada and U.S. designated a terrorist entity was arrested in Greece, held overnight and deported.
That according to the left-wing International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), of which Samidoun’s Charlotte Kates is also the deputy secretary general.
IADL said Kates was refused entry at Athens International Airport on Sept. 22 under a German-imposed ban that applies across the 29 European countries in the Schengen open borders treaty.
Charlotte Kates of Samidoun on May 29 (CASI)
IADL condemned Kates’s “arbitrary detention and deportation” and called it an affront to her liberty, security and right to travel freely.
Who is Kates
Also in 2024, Kates travelled to Iran, which sponsors Hamas and Hezbollah, to accept a human rights award.
What is Samidoun
The U.S. government described Samidoun as a “sham charity that serves as an international fundraiser for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist organization.”
Despite the terror designation, Samidoun has remained a federally registered not-for-profit. On Sept. 11, Industry Minister Melanie Joly directed officials to “look at any and all” options to dissolve Samidoun.
Foreign interference?
Samidoun co-sponsored a petition in early 2024 to oust B.C. Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Selina Robinson, who is Jewish, from the NDP cabinet.
Robinson called pre-1948 Israel a “crappy piece of land,” but apologized and promised to make amends with the Muslim community. Eby bowed to protests and fired Robinson from cabinet.
More trouble for Kates
In August, OneBC party leader Dallas Brodie, the MLA for Vancouver Quilchena, filed a private prosecution in B.C. Provincial Court, accusing Kates of terrorism-related offences under the Criminal Code. A hearing date is to be determined in October.
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