Ontario man pleads guilty to trying to join the Islamic State terrorist group

An Ontario man admitted Monday he left Toronto with his wife almost two years ago to join the so-called Islamic State.

At a court appearance in Brampton, Ont., Ikar Mao, 23, pleaded guilty to leaving Canada to participate in the activities of a terrorist group.

But federal prosecutors dropped a second count against Mao, and also said they would be staying charges against his wife Haleema Mustafa.

The couple left Canada together in 2019 and were caught near the Syrian border. Both had faced the same two terrorism charges after returning to Canada.

“Mao undertook the trip to Turkey in July 2019 with the express purpose of crossing the border into Syria, and eventually moving to ISIS controlled territory,” according to an agreed statement of facts.

“Mao did this with the intention of making himself available to ISIS and/or for the benefit of ISIS.”

In a statement, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada said staying the charges against Mustafa was “appropriate in the circumstances given her role, the evidence against her, and the public safety protection assessment.”

“The RCMP was consulted. Ms. Mustafa was in custody for approximately eight months pending resolution.”

But the agreed facts also she had paid for most of the trip, having transferred more than $3,000 from her personal account to a join account shortly before they left Canada. The money was used to buy the plane tickets the couple used.

The case returns to court on Wednesday.

Source: Global News