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Samidoun

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Samidoun
Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
صامدون
Formation2011; 14 years ago (2011)
FounderCharlotte Kates and Khaled Barakat
TypeNonprofit
HeadquartersVancouver, British Columbia
Charlotte Kates
Dave Diewert
Thomas Gerhard Hofland
Parent organization
Alliance for Global Justice
Websitesamidoun.net

Samidoun (Arabic: صامدون, romanized: Ṣāmidūn, lit. 'steadfast'—see sumud for the cultural context of this term), officially Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, is a pro-Palestinian advocacy group based in Canada. Since the October 7 attacks and ensuing Gaza war, Samidoun has organized Palestinian solidarity protests in the United States and Canada.

Samidoun has been designated as a terrorist group by Israel and Canada due to having been accused by a number of governments of raising funds for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a political and militant group that the US, European Union, and several other countries designate as a terrorist organization. Samidoun has also been restricted by Germany and the United States.

History

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Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Samidoun was founded in 2011 after a hunger strike in Israeli prisons organized by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).[1] Samidoun was incorporated as a federal not-for-profit agency in Canada in 2021.[2]

Samidoun is led by Charlotte Lynn Kates, Dave Diewert and Thomas Gerhard Hofland. Kates is a New Jersey native and Rutgers University graduate who is married to Samidoun founder, Khaled Barakat, who was born near Jerusalem. Barakat is considered to be a PFLP leader by the US government. He was deported from the United States in 2003.[3][4][1]

In 2021, Israel's Defense Ministry designated the association as a terrorist organization, based on recommendations from the Shin Bet and the National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing. The designation alleged that, although its official aim is to assist in securing prisoners' release, it effectively operates as a front for the PFLP abroad.[5]

Since the beginning of the Gaza war, Samidoun has been described as "pro-Hamas".[6] In November 2023, the association was banned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior of Germany for allegedly distributing candy to celebrate the October 7 attacks.[7][8] Further reasons given was its alleged support for Hamas and endorsing and incitment of violence.[9]

Kates was arrested in April 2024 after she led a chant of "Long live October 7" and referred to a number of designated terrorist organizations as heroes at a demonstration in Vancouver.[10] Kates has said that Hamas and Hezbollah are "not engaging in terrorism" but are "engaging in a national liberation struggle."[11] As of May 2025, the Canadian government had not decided whether to approve the hate crime charges against Kates.[12] In August 2024, She travelled to Iran to accept an Islamic Human Rights and Human Dignity Award.[13]

Samidoun coordinator Mohammed Khatib was barred from entering the Netherlands in October 2024 to speak at Radboud University.[14] On 1 October 2024, the House of Representatives of the Netherlands passed a motion to recommend that Samidoun be designated as a terrorist organization.[15][16]

Meta Platforms and YouTube have blocked certain online platforms of the organization,[vague] citing breaches of their community guidelines.[16]

October 2024 Vancouver rally

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Arabic language Samidoun sticker on a pole in Barcelona, Spain

On the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, a speaker at a rally in Vancouver organized by Samidoun identified themselves with Hezbollah and Hamas and called for death to the United States, Canada, and Israel. Participants at the same event were seen burning a Canadian flag.[17] Samidoun confirmed and defended the actions, saying they accurately reflected its goal of "destroying the colonialist, capitalist state of Canada" and stand by the "death to Canada" phrase "as the call to action that it is".[18][19]

On 15 October 2024, in a joint action, the Government of Canada declared Samidoun a terrorist entity, and the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned Samidoun as a Specially Designated National.[note 1][20][21][22][23][24][25]

Funding

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Samidoun's fiscal sponsor is the Arizona-based Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ).[26]

Since 2019, various financial platforms, including American Express, PayPal, Donorbox, Plaid, and Discover, have stopped processing funding for Samidoun and the AFGJ, "citing fears of relations to terror activity." In February 2023, the AFGJ announced that the company that handled its credit card transactions had blocked its ability to process donations due to allegations that Samidoun was involved in terrorist activities.[27][28][29] Donors to AFGJ have included the Tides Foundation and the New Venture Fund, although the New Venture Fund announced after the October 7 terrorist attacks that it would discontinue all funding to AFGJ, saying "We condemn terrorism and violence against civilians in all forms and do not support any projects or provide any grants to organizations that fund terrorism." In November 2023, the Schmidt Family Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Arnold Ventures also pledged to discontinue support of the AFGJ. The Tides Foundation did not announce plans to discontinue support of AFGJ.[30][31]

National bans and sanctions

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Samidoun is listed as a terrorist group by:

Samidoun is otherwise restricted by the following states:

In the sanctions initiated in 2024 by the United States, Samidoun was characterized as, "...a sham charity that serves as an international fundraiser for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization", in the official press release from the United States Department of the Treasury.[21]

Notes

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  1. ^ The SDN status is distinct from the Foreign Terrorist Organization status; that is, the United States did not designate Samidoun a terrorist organization. The United States sanctioned Samidoun for alleged association with terrorist organizations, calling Samidoun a "sham charity." Samidoun is on the SDN list under the Specially Designated Global Terrorist program, which includes both organizations considered capable of terrorism and their alleged associates.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Carrigg, David (16 October 2024). "Four things to know about Vancouver-based terror group Samidoun". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Jewish association wants Vancouver pro-Palestine group banned". New West Record. 24 November 2023.
  3. ^ Hedges, Chris (18 July 2003). "PUBLIC LIVES; Law Student With a History of Taking Left Turns". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Terry Glavin: The curious case of Khaled Barakat". National Post.
  5. ^ a b "Israel designates PFLP international branch as a terrorist organization". The Jerusalem Post. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Pro-Hamas group that helped organize college protests is a 'sham charity,' Treasury says". NBC News. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b "HAMAS and Samidoun banned in Germany". Federal Ministry of the Interior. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Germany bans pro-Palestinian group Samidoun". Reuters. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  9. ^ "HAMAS and Samidoun banned in Germany". www.bmi.bund.de. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Proctor, Jason (1 May 2024). "Comments at pro-Palestinian demonstration lead to hate crime investigation". CBC News. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  11. ^ Weichselbaum, Simone; Atkins, Chloe (1 November 2024). "When does free speech cross the line into breaking U.S. anti-terrorism laws?". NBC News. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  12. ^ Little, Simon (27 May 2025). "Still no decision on hate charges for B.C. woman 1 year after praising Hamas attack". Global News. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Vancouver activist appears on Iranian TV months after rally arrest". British Columbia. 16 August 2024.
  14. ^ Koningsveld, Akiva Van (30 October 2024). "Netherlands bans entry of Samidoun leader". Jewish News Syndicate. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Rechtsstaat en Rechtsorde". www.tweedekamer.nl (in Dutch). 1 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Dutch Parliament votes to designate Samidoun as terror organization". The Jerusalem Post. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Vancouver Police probe Oct. 7 rally where 'death to Canada' cry went up". Global News. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  18. ^ Hopper, Tristin (14 October 2024). "Samidoun doubles down, says 'death to Canada' an accurate summation of its goals". National Post.
  19. ^ "Vancouver Police probe Oct. 7 rally where 'death to Canada' cry went up". Global News.
  20. ^ "Government of Canada lists Samidoun as a terrorist entity". www.canada.ca. 15 October 2024.
  21. ^ a b "United States and Canada Target Key International Fundraiser for Foreign Terrorist Organization PFLP". United States Department of the Treasury. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Samidoun, group behind 'death to Canada' chant, listed as terrorist entity". Global News. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  23. ^ "US, Canada impose sanctions on Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  24. ^ "US slaps sanctions on 'sham charity' fundraising for Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine". Voice of America. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Pro-Hamas group that helped organize college protests is a 'sham charity,' Treasury says". NBC News. 15 October 2024.
  26. ^ Kerr, Andrew (13 November 2024). "Soros-Backed Dark Money Giant Bankrolled the Fiscal Sponsor of US-Designated Terror Financier Samidoun, Tax Forms Show". Washington Free Beacon. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  27. ^ Merlin, Ohad (15 October 2024). "Canada lists Samidoun as a terrorist entity". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  28. ^ Arria, Michael (23 February 2023). "Human rights org loses fundraising platform". Mondoweiss. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  29. ^ Weichselbaum, Simone; Chaidez, Alexandra (20 March 2024). "Who's behind the pro-Palestinian protests that are disrupting Biden's campaign events and blocking city streets?". NBC News. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  30. ^ Kaminsky, Gabe (13 November 2023). "Terror-tied charity faces uncertain future as liberal donors and payment processors jump ship". The Washington Examiner. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  31. ^ Kaminsky, Gabe (31 October 2023). "Liberal Ford Foundation to stop funding Palestinian terror-tied group: 'Years of warnings'". The Washington Examiner. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  32. ^ a b "United States and Canada Target Key International Fundraiser for Foreign Terrorist Organization PFLP". United States Department of the Treasury. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  33. ^ "Canada lists pro-Palestinian group Samidoun as terrorist entity". CBC. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  34. ^ "US and Canada impose sanctions, blacklist pro-Palestinian group Samidoun". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
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