Please email justice minister Gary Anandasangaree to call on the government to end Canada’s anti-Palestinian terrorism list.

As the government raises the possibility of following the UK by criminalizing those who express public support for Palestine Action and other listed groups, it’s more important to challenge a list that undercuts Canadians civil liberties & Palestinians’ legally enshrined rights.

In recent hours, the completely lawless state of Israel bombed a boat anchored in Tunis, and a residential complex in Doha. They are trying to deter the largest ever humanitarian flotilla to Gaza that’s currently in Tunisia while simultaneously assassinating Hamas leaders in Qatar discussing a US ceasefire proposal. Israel’s global terror campaign makes more clear than ever the importance of abolishing Canada’s anti-Palestinian terror list.

Under international law, colonized people have the right to resist a brutal occupation. Yet, over 10 percent of Canada’s terror list is made up of organizations headquartered in a long-occupied land, representing one-tenth of one percent of the world’s population. Representing much of Palestinian political life, eight of the occupied nation’s organizations are listed. Additionally, two Canadian based organizations (Samidoun and IFRAN-Canada) and have been listed for assisting Palestinians. Now, the government is musing about strengthening the legislation, effectively making it illegal to hold a Samidoun flag.

Created in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attack in the US, Canada’s terror list grants the government powers to ban an organization without providing a standard legal burden of proof. The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, which is “a national coalition of 44 Canadian NGOs, unions, professional associations, faith groups, environmental organizations, human rights and civil liberties advocates, as well as groups representing immigrant and refugee communities in Canada”, has campaigned against the terror list for two decades.

This cannot wait a moment longer. It’s time to abolish Canada’s anti-Palestinian terrorism list.