You are on page 1of 6

P stole Board

of Canada

Conimisslon des Ilbrations


conditlonnelles dv Cerrnde

PROTECTED WHEN COMPLETED


Personal Information Bank PBC-CLCC PPU 005

Page 2

PAROLE BOARD OF CANADA


DECISION

FPS;
FILE NO;

Name:
ANMAD, FAHIM
Institution;
INSTITUTION

DETENTION

(PANEL)

a
(5) PRESENT (except during deLiberations) : YES
EXCLUDED FROM PART OF HEARING : NO

OBSERVER

ASSISTANT PRESENT: NO
NO
ELDER lADVISOR :

REASON:

w!m!1!a. ZW
2016-05-25

DETENTION ORDER CONFIRMED

DETENTION

The Parole Board of Canada (Board) reviewed your case


about your detention order.

by way of a hearing to make a decision

You were detained by the Board on April 16, 2015. Your detention was ordered as the Board
concluded that you were likely to commit an offence Causing serious harm to another person prior
to the expiration of your sentence. You appealed this decision by the Board and the Appeal
DMsion affirmed the Boards decision on September 9, 2015.
Today the Board must determine whether there is sufficient new information concerning the risk
presented by you to justify moditying the order or making a new order, The Board must be
satisfied that your behaviour has improved sufficiently in order to determine that you no longer
meet the criteria for detention.
in making the decision to confirm the detention, the Board has taken the following information into
consideration:.
1 3 month sentence for
At 31 years of age you are a first time federal offender serving a 7 year
nkO)FnMMSflfl:p
FPS

Name; AHMAD. FAHIM

IWMtleN (S

31

File No;

I .1

1 arnie Boerd
ofCsnsde

Commission des Ilbretlons


conditlonnelles du Canada

PROTCCTEO WHEN COMPlETED


Pemonal Information Bank PSID-CLOC PPIJ 005

Page 3

Participate in Activity of Terrorist Group, Instruct/Carry Out Act for Terrorist Group and
Commission Of Offence for a Terrorist Group, File information Indicates that you were the bead of
a group of men whose objectives were to engage in terrorist actMties. Pile content indicates your
plans included attacking infrastructure sites, public and military locations, and the Canadian
Parliament. Reportedly you had been successful in recruiting and motivating others in your violent
ambitions.
In the Reasons for Sentencing file content IndIcates that your first conviction Is for participating in
or contributing to the activities of a terrorist group for the purpose of terrorist activity. The second
conviction Is for importing firearms into Canada for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in
association with a terrorist group. Your third conviction Is for knowingly Instructing six names
individuals to carry out an activity for the benefit of, at the direction or in association with a terrorist
group.
You have no other criminal history. You were born elsewhere and your family moved to Canada
where your parents worked long hours in order to support the family. You were an only child who,
you have reported, was left alone to your own devices much of the time. Your family was
moderately religious and pro-social. Reportedly, overtime, your religious views transformed and
intensified; your attire and personal presentation changed; Due to a discord in beliefs and
practices, you eventually left the family home.
At the time of intake into incarceration, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) assessed that
you required a high level of intervention in the areas of: attitude, personallemotionai orientation
and associates. A moderate need for improvement in the area of Education/Employment was
cited. At that time your accountability was rated as low and your motivation level was assessed
as medium.
In the 2015 detention decision the Board stated that you were assessed as continuing to require a
high need for improvement In the areas of: attitude, personal/emotional and associates. Your
reintegration potential and accountability were rated as low and your motivation was rated as
moderate.
In a Correctional Plan report prepared in April 2016 improvements were noted In the attitude and
personal/emotional domains. These are now rated as requiring a moderate need of intervention.
Your accountability has been assessed as medium. You are now said to be engaged in your
correctional plan. Your security rating has moved from maximum to medium.
Your assessed motivation has not changed in the period of review. The Board has, however,
determined that you have entered a process of change, albeit very recently.
The Board has noted that the domain regarding associates has not changed or improved since
your incarceration, including in the period of review. The Board has determined that, in your index
offences, you associated with like-minded individuals intent on criminal actions that could have
had catastrophic impacts. You have admitted to such assolations. You have claimed you have
distanced yourself from such people, Including your co-accused.
However, the Board has noted that you have been living within the confines of a very controlled
environment. The Board has determined that this risk domain remains seriously conceming, In
part because you have demonstrated a capacity for encouraging and leading others in crimlnai
and high risk activities.
A psychological risk assessment compieted.in December 2014, indicates there are no validated,
reliable standardized tests available for assessing your risk for re-involvement in terrorist acts. The
OECISION AccSSEO
.

Name;AHMAO,FANIM

XCMPTION LS APPLIeD

jTh(2)(a)J_.

I *1

ProI Soord

of Canida

Page 4

Commission dAtilbratlons

conditioonelles do Canada

PROTECTED WHEN COMPLETED


Pnonal Information tin

ocacc PPIJ 005

assessment suggested that you have a tendency to minimize your full role and intentions in your
criminal offending, an opinion that may point to limited insight into your criminal offending. The
Board determined at todays hearing that you continue to down-play the level of your central role
in the index offences. At the same time the Board noted that you verbalized an inclination toward
future leadership and your intention to express a well-informed level of religious competency to
others.
File content indicates that you had been attending counselling with Imams while at Milihaven
lnsthution where you were incarcerated at prior to a transfer to a medium security institution in
January 2016. Reportedly, at your previous institution you maintained institutional employment in
the school, were a peer health counsellor and worked as a food tray collector. The Board finds
that In the past few months you have not had the opportunity to pursue one-to-one counselling but
that you have engaged in institutional employment. The Board has again determined that you
have entered into an active phase of change. However the Board has concluded that you have
not, to date, had the opportunity to demonstrate the emergent change over a significant period of
time. Accordingly the Board has determined that over the past year, while there is evidence that
1 insufficient new information exists to substantiate realized
indicates your potential for change
change.
The CSC noted in the Assessment for Decision dated January 2016 that there does not appear to
be sufficient evidence that you have made significant gains since your last (detention) hearing to
recommend the detention be modified. They suggested you remain a high needslhigh risk
offender and they expressd their belief that your risk cannot be managed in the community at this
time.
At your healing today the Board reviewed the decision criteria with you. The Board explained that
the hearing would mainly focus on what you have achieved or accomplished in the past year. The
Board found that you appeared to fully comprehend the decision criteria. The Board noted your
claim that change has been occurring over the past decade. However, the Board found file
content that indicates that change has only recently occurred to be reliable and persuasive.
At your hearing today your Institutional Parole Officer (IPO) said that you recently cascaded to a
medium security institution (January 2016) and that you had sought employment in the kitchen.
The Bord found this information pointed to you recently engaging in a positive change process.
She spoke of an actuarial risk score that Indicates a low risk to reoffend generally. The Board has
determined that the assessment of your risk, while valid, is somewhat limited. The Board has
noted the absence of validated testing specific to your type of criminal offending.
The Board asked how you currently view your criminal offending. You spoke of your past need to
people please and you spoke of your past views regarding oppression. You said you had wanted
to help your brothers and thatyou had been influenced by videos, news and intemet sites. You
said you had gained a new perspective and that you now realize everything is not black or white.
The Board finds this change in thinking indicates that you are beginning to develop a stronger
capacity for insight. However, the Board has determined that this shift has reportediy occurred
very recently and has yet to be fully tested at your new institution.
Specific to the impact of counselling with Imams you said you had now read the right materials
and teachings. You said you were now only listening to people who had experience and
qualifications. You admitted you had not read the Quran until your incarceration and claim you
now know better. You gave examples of questioning lmams following their group lectures to
ensure the right teaching was occurring and to raise the discussion. The Board acknowledges
your effort toward clarity and understanding but also finds your self-reported behaviour
concerning. it appeared to the Board that you want to be seen in a leadership role or as one who
rDEcIsIoN ACCESSEOJ9
5SMPTlON (B) AP*UJP

Name: AHMAD, FAHIM

4
(:L...___
(
4
l
)
2

FIle No

I 1

Perole Boerd
of C eriede

Commlnian cleslibratlon
condltlonnslles du Cenede

Page 5

PROTECTED WHEN COMPLETED

Personal lnrormaon Bank PBC-CLCC PPU 005

knows more than others. This is very similar behaviour to what you have previously self reported.
When the Board pointed this out, you attempted to deflect by providing details of the
circumstances. You appeared unable to appreciate its similarity to past behaviour; this concerned
the Board. The Board has determined that you have not gained insight into your persistent need to
impress others.
The Board asked you to describe your top three risk factors. You Indicated associates, and the
company you keep. You said that this risk is In the past and no longer present. You said the
Internet was a risk factor and suggested this is due to misrepresentations on this media. You also
suggested the wrong kind of teacher was a risk factor. You said you had been easily influenced
but insisted that this was in the past. Pressed by the Board you admitted that wanting to be a
somebody, being bored with nothing to do, and being lonely and isolated were also risks. The
Board found that you could not fully discuss your risks without being pressed and encouraged to
expand on your answers. In attempting to discuss the behaviours, as previously noted, the Board
found that preexisting behaviours that contributed to your risk, continue to present themselves
(e.g. the need to Impress others).
You were asked to describe a high risk situation and your strategy to deal with it. In summary your
strategy is one of walking away and correcting the person. You spoke of the impact of your
notoriety and implied you believe people will seek you out as a member of the Toronto 18. You
said that you expect to be offered opportunities to speak at conferences. On the one hand you
seemed negatIve toward this idea but on the other hand you said you had a responsibility and
were looking forward to it. You said you owed it to the Imams; you referred to this as a reluctant
obligation. The Board noted file information wherein you had previously said such work was an
integral part of your release plan (e.g. when you applied for day parole).
You told the Board that when a person had been released from Guantanamo and re-entered the
community they were sought out by others. You implied they had special status. To the Board it
appeared that you are not reluctant in recognizing your notoriety and that you expect to be sought
out. The Board found thi aspect of your presentation somewhat worrisome as It suggests
distorted thinking and a failure to comprehend the gravity of your index offences. The Board
concluded that insufficient change has occurred in your view of the gravity and Impact of your
offences and determined that, on some level, you would enjoy your notoriety.
You expressed your anger and disappointment with the people you had thought were your friends.
You said you would have expected some people would have stepped up to help your family. The
Board Interpreted your statements as evidence that you had not fully realized how frightening your
actions had been to the entire community. To the Board it appeared you were more concerned
about the impacts of your criminal behaviour on you and your family than on the community and
country writ large. This, the Board finds, illustrates limited insight on your part.
On full parole you intend to live with your parents. On day parole you plan to live in a halfway
house which will offer you structure. You said you want to study robotics at Humber College, a
three year program that offers a paid co-op term in the last year. You said you wanted a part time
job and said two offers were available from cousins, including one in construction. You admitted
you are not keen on long physical labour.
The Board finds that your full parole plan offers insufficient oversight and monitoring and is not
viable specific to your risk factors. The Board notes that the development of your radicalized
views occurred when you were living in exactly these conditions. The Board has determined that
your full parole plan is insufficient and lacks gradual, incremental reintegration. Given the finding
that sufficient change has not occurred in the period of review, the Board determines that your day
parole plan is in development but premature.
DEC1ON ACCESSED
tHtr-irtiSn (S) Arrut

FPS:

Name:AkIMAD,FAHIM

144(2}(a)

.._

FlieNo

I1

Perole Soerci
olC enade

Ccmimision des libratl4ns


cendltlonnelles du Canada

PROTECTED WHEN COMPLETED


Personal Information Sank PBC-CLCC Elk) QO

Page 6

The Board reviewed the recommended special conditions with you. You disagreed with the
Internet restriction as you said you like to watch a lot of TV and that TVs were now smart and
capable of accessing the Internet. The Board has determined that the Internet has had a
significant influence on your thinking. You identified the Internet as a risk area. The Board finds
that access to the Internet and other social networking sites present a risk that you will return to
thinking pattems that developed over time and that have only recently begun to shift.
The Board has therefore determined that an Internet and social networking restriction would
support your reintegration Into the community and mitigate your risk.
Your current Institutional Parole Officer (IPO) stated that, despite the suggestion that you were
argumentative, this has not been her experience. She provided supportive statements regarding
your behaviur since you were added to her caseload earlier this year. Her beliefs were taken into
consideration today by the Board. However, the Board has determined that your behaviours and
changes while under her supervision are recent and untested over time.
In your closing statement, you reiterated your suggestion that your change process has been
occurring over a long period of time. You did not speak about any significant change that has
occurred in the period of review since your original detention order.
The Board has reviewed the contents of your file thoroughly, has considered the
1 and
recommendations of your Case Management Team (CMT) in the January 2016 assessment
has put its mind toward what was said at your hearing today.
The Board does recognize that you have made recent gains. However, the Board has determined
that changes have not been reported in all areas, especially the risk area of associates. The
Board has concluded the rating of high need In associates Is most concerning at this time.
The Board acknowledges the change in your security rating from maximum to medium. While this
is a positive step, the Board finds that you have been in a medium institution for less than six
months and that you have not had ample time or opportunity to demonstrate significant change. It
is concerning that similar behavioursthe need to impress or demonstrate leadership--that
contributed to your offending remain arid were evident in todays healing.
The Board has determined that you appear to now be engaged in your correctional plan and that
your work with the lmams has contributed to this shift. Nonetheless, the Board concludes that
insufficient change has been reported and documented in your case.
The Board has determined that you do not have acceptance at a Community Residential Facility
(CRF) nor do you have appropriate community support The Board concludes your release plans
at present do not reflect the gradual, monitored and supported release that you require. Hence the
Board has concluded you have no viable release plan at this time.
On balance, having weighed and considered all these factors, the Board concludes that there is
no sufficient new information that justifies modifying your detention order or making a new order.
Accordingly the Board confirms the detention order.

FPS;

Nwne;AHMAD,FAHIM

File No
-.

I .1

Parole Board
lCanada

Commission dosllbratons
conditionnellesdu Cannda

PROTECTED WHEN COMPLCTED


Person$ Inlbrmailon Bank PBC-CLCC PPU 005

Page 7

e
DETENTION

DETENTION ORDER
CONFIRMED

Board Member

2016-05-25

Vote

DAWSON, C

DETENTION ORDER CONFIRMED

HARRIS, M

DETENTION ORDER CONFIRMED

DAWSON, C

Board Member Signature Date

HARRIS, M

Board Member Signature Date

sION AccInID
FileNo

Name AHMAD, FAHIM

FlS

cRy

I1AJVl

(IUC

--

You might also like