Canadian Woman Faces Terrorism Trial After Joining ISIS in Syria
Former friend testifies that the accused was brainwashed by an extremist husband.
1Trial of Ammara Amjad
Ammara Amjad, a 32-year-old mother of two, is currently on trial in Brampton, Ontario. She faces charges for participating in the activities of a terrorist group. Amjad is the first Canadian woman to face criminal prosecution for allegedly living under Islamic State control in Syria during the group's active period.
2Testimony on Radicalization
Naveed Deol, a former close friend, testified that Amjad underwent a sudden transformation after meeting her first husband, Bilal Khan. Deol described Amjad as a previously non-political teenager who became increasingly preachy. She claimed Khan sent extremist materials to Amjad, effectively brainwashing her before she traveled to Syria in 2015.
3Journey to Syria
Amjad traveled to Turkey in March 2015, eventually crossing into ISIS-controlled territory. Despite her friend's concerns, Amjad pursued the move after expressing a desire to help those suffering. Once in Syria, she married Khan, a suspected ISIS fighter, and later married a British member of the group named Hamza Parvez.
4Fatalistic Worldview
During her time in Syria, Amjad experienced significant personal losses, including the death of her husband and an infant child. Deol testified that Amjad remained fatalistic, stating that events happened for a reason. She frequently pressured Deol to consider the afterlife, leading to a gradual breakdown of their long-term friendship.
5Detention and Repatriation
Following the 2019 defeat of ISIS, Amjad was captured and held in detention camps for families of extremists in northeast Syria. She spent four years in these facilities before the Canadian government repatriated her in April 2023. She was subsequently charged with terrorism-related offenses in October of the same year.
6Evidence and Prosecution
The Crown's case against Amjad relies heavily on digital messages extracted from her mother's phone by the RCMP. These communications, primarily written in Urdu, document her time abroad. The defense team has actively challenged the accuracy of the RCMP's translations, which serves as a central point of contention in court.
7Broader Canadian Context
Dozens of Canadian extremists traveled to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS after the group emerged from Al Qaeda. While many individuals died in the conflict, several were captured during the 2019 rout. Canada has repatriated nine women from Syria, though only two have pleaded guilty to charges thus far.
8Legal and Social Impact
This trial highlights the complexities of prosecuting citizens returning from conflict zones. As the first Canadian woman to face such charges, the outcome may set a legal precedent for others who remain uncharged. The case underscores the ongoing challenges authorities face in addressing radicalization and the reintegration of former foreign fighters.