Kassem Daher
Encyclopedia
Kassem Daher, born in Bekaa, Lebanon, is a Lebanese-Canadian
accused of membership in a number of Islamic militant groups.
. In 1990 he purchased the local movie theatre, and four years later purchased the Capitol Theatre in nearby Ponoka
.
Mahmoud Jaballah said that he frequently phoned a man he knew as "Mahmoud" who lived in Alberta
, alleged by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
(CSIS) to have been Daher, to ask about conditions in the province, and exchanging tapes, books and similar publications. Jaballah also visited him in Winnipeg, and phoned him, Jaballah once phoned Hassan Farhat
, telling him that Daher would appreciate any religious audiocassettes that they could send him. In July 1997, Jaballah suggested Daher contact Mabruk; who subsequently tried to convince Daher to distribute more pamphlets around Alberta. Jaballah and Daher ended their relationship by the end of the year.
Farhat and Daher also spoke to each other, with Farhat once being recorded on a wiretapped call saying he admired the religious scholar Omar Abdel Rahman so much that "“he puts the whole world on one scale and ‘the blind
one’ on the other, because he was so precious”.
He is alleged to have made a comment about publishing a book entitled "Terrorism Is a Duty and Force is an Obligation.".
On February 3 2000, Daher and eight others were arrested in the Bekaa Valley, where he owns a mansion
, following a clash with government troops. Accused of being a member of Takfir W' Al Hijra and assembling and equipping the group, Daher was released after two years and put under house arrest
.
Daher is accused of ties to the Canadian Islamic Association, and using the name "Abu Zurr", to recruit American terrorist Jose Padilla
to train in Al-Qaeda training camps.
On November 23 2005, Daher, Padilla and one other were indicted by American authorities of allegedly fundraising and supplying support for Asbat al-Ansar,
Lebanese-Canadian
Lebanese Canadians are Canadian nationals of Lebanese origin. There are according to the 2006 Census some 165,150 Canadians of Lebanese origin, making them by far the largest group of people with Arabic-speaking roots....
accused of membership in a number of Islamic militant groups.
Life
At the age of 14, Daher left Lebanon and moved to Columbia - before settling in Leduc, AlbertaLeduc, Alberta
- Demographics :The population of the City of Leduc according to its 2011 municipal census is 24,139, a 3.6% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 23,293....
. In 1990 he purchased the local movie theatre, and four years later purchased the Capitol Theatre in nearby Ponoka
Ponoka, Alberta
Ponoka is a town in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the south/central parkland region of rolling hills. Industries are agriculture , and oil and gas production...
.
Mahmoud Jaballah said that he frequently phoned a man he knew as "Mahmoud" who lived in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, alleged by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is Canada's national intelligence service. It is responsible for collecting, analyzing, reporting and disseminating intelligence on threats to Canada's national security, and conducting operations, covert and overt, within Canada and abroad.Its...
(CSIS) to have been Daher, to ask about conditions in the province, and exchanging tapes, books and similar publications. Jaballah also visited him in Winnipeg, and phoned him, Jaballah once phoned Hassan Farhat
Hassan Farhat
Born in Telafa, Iraq, Hassan Farhat was the founder and Imam of Salaheddin Mosque in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada....
, telling him that Daher would appreciate any religious audiocassettes that they could send him. In July 1997, Jaballah suggested Daher contact Mabruk; who subsequently tried to convince Daher to distribute more pamphlets around Alberta. Jaballah and Daher ended their relationship by the end of the year.
Farhat and Daher also spoke to each other, with Farhat once being recorded on a wiretapped call saying he admired the religious scholar Omar Abdel Rahman so much that "“he puts the whole world on one scale and ‘the blind
one’ on the other, because he was so precious”.
He is alleged to have made a comment about publishing a book entitled "Terrorism Is a Duty and Force is an Obligation.".
Return to Lebanon
Daher returned to his Lebanese hometown in May 1998.On February 3 2000, Daher and eight others were arrested in the Bekaa Valley, where he owns a mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
, following a clash with government troops. Accused of being a member of Takfir W' Al Hijra and assembling and equipping the group, Daher was released after two years and put under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
.
Daher is accused of ties to the Canadian Islamic Association, and using the name "Abu Zurr", to recruit American terrorist Jose Padilla
José Padilla
José Padilla is the name of:* José Gualberto Padilla , Puerto Rican poet, politician and advocate of Puerto Rican indepedence.* José Prudencio Padilla , Colombian military leader...
to train in Al-Qaeda training camps.
On November 23 2005, Daher, Padilla and one other were indicted by American authorities of allegedly fundraising and supplying support for Asbat al-Ansar,