Montreal woman held in Syria deemed security threat, refused government help returning to Canada

The government said the mother of six could 'act in a violent manner' if she returned to Canada.

A Montreal woman captured in Syria has been refused government assistance returning to Canada because of the security threat she poses, a lawyer said Monday.

Lawrence Greenspon said Global Affairs Canada had advised him that, based on security assessments, the woman did not quality for government assistance.

The mother of six, whom he identified only as Ms. J, is one of three Canadian women still detained at camps for foreigners taken prisoner during the fight against ISIS.

While the federal government is preparing to bring two Edmonton women out of the camps, Ms. J did not qualify for “extraordinary assistance” under the government’s policy on ISIS detainees, he said.

She “is assessed to adhere to extremist ideological beliefs which may lead her to act in a violent manner that would pose a security threat in Canada, and the government has no ability to ensure that no such conduct occurs,” Greenspon said, reading from the government’s decision.

Greenspon disagreed, saying the government could bring charges against her or seek a terrorism peace bond from the courts to reduce any risks.

“It is completely untrue,” he said of the government claim the risk she posed was unmanageable.

She must now decide whether to allow her children to travel to Canada without her, or to keep the family united in a prison camp, Greenspon said.