Toronto, ON – A Yemeni national, Husam Taha Ali Al-Sewaiee, has been released on bail to live under house arrest at a Toronto mosque, despite police allegations detailed in court documents that they have “reasonable grounds to fear Al-Sewaiee ‘may commit a terrorism offense,’” following his arrest for uttering threats. This serious allegation forms the basis of the RCMP’s ongoing effort to place the 32-year-old under a terrorism peace bond.
Al-Sewaiee was arrested by the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) on April 19, with authorities alleging he was attempting to leave Canada to join a Middle East terrorist group. While he has not been formally charged with terrorism, the “reasonable grounds to fear” he “may commit a terrorism offense,” as stated in his court file obtained by Global News, underpins the Crown prosecutors’ application for a terrorism peace bond – a preventative measure under Section 810.011 of the Criminal Code. This section allows for such an order if a judge is satisfied by evidence that the informant (in this case, likely the police) has reasonable grounds for their fear.
His release to a mosque in Toronto’s North York district, disclosed by his lawyer on Monday, comes with stringent conditions. According to an Ontario judge’s release order, Al-Sewaiee must “reside at the mosque,” wear an ankle monitor, surrender his travel documents, and stay 300 metres from airports and border crossings. He cannot leave the mosque unless accompanied, possess weapons, or use internet-capable devices. Violation of these conditions would lead to his re-arrest. A $1,000 bond was posted by an individual whose phone number matches that of the mosque.
The chain of events leading to his current situation began on April 15, when Al-Sewaiee was initially arrested by Peel Regional Police for allegedly uttering threats, a charge for which he also had a court appearance Monday. Four days later, the RCMP’s national security team made their arrest concerning the alleged attempt to join a terrorist group, which sources told Global News was an Iranian-backed faction. Yemen is home to the Houthi movement, which is sponsored by Iran and has recently gained notoriety for terrorist attacks on international shipping.
Al-Sewaiee, a citizen of Yemen, has been seen at pro-Gaza protests in Toronto and has used an Arabic interpreter in court. His listed address in Kitchener, Ontario, was disputed by the homeowner, who told Global News Al-Sewaiee did not live there, describing him as a family friend and stating, “He’s like homeless,” and “I don’t know anything about him, I just hear from my husband he seriously has mental issues.”
Peace Bonds Do Not Always Work
Terrorism peace bonds, like the one sought against Al-Sewaiee, are designed to restrict an individual’s movements and activities to prevent potential future offenses, rather than to punish for a past crime. They have been a key tool for Canadian authorities, particularly in cases where direct charges for terrorism might be difficult to prove or are still under investigation, but do not always work.
Notable past uses include the case of Aaron Driver, who detonated a suicide bomb in 2016 while under a peace bond, and more recently, their application to several Canadian ISIS women repatriated from Syria.
A publication ban remains in place preventing news organizations from reporting on specific allegations discussed during Al-Sewaiee’s bail hearing, which was scheduled to resume on May 8. His lawyer, Samara Sector, had previously declined to comment on the case.
The Public Safety Canada website notes that groups like Yemen’s Houthi terrorists, also known as Ansarallah, are aligned with the Iranian-led ‘axis of resistance,’ a collection of terrorist groups which include Hamas and Hezbollah. The website states, “In the context of the Israel-Hamas war, Ansarallah began disruptive strikes on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and other waterways, as well as strikes against Israel.”
Al-Sewaiee’s legal proceedings for both the uttering threats charge and the terrorism peace bond application are ongoing.
