As the world grapples with wars, humanitarian crises, and rapidly evolving digital technologies, Canada is unveiling new facets of an old threat: extremist Islamist terrorist financing. The 2025 report from the Canadian Department of Finance, updating the 2023 assessment, highlights that groups like Al-Qaida, Daesh (ISIS), Hamas, Hezbollah, and Al-Shabaab continue to pose a high risk, with deep religious-political motivations, activities across numerous Muslim countries, and increasingly sophisticated financing methods – including cryptocurrencies, trade-based money laundering, and disguising as charities. The report, based on data up to 2024 including FINTRAC reports, warns that despite a decline in foreign fighters, threats are spreading through global networks and integrating with organized crime. Let's break it down: who they are, why they do it, where they operate – and how Canada is connected.
Al-Qaida: The Spiritual Struggle Against the "System of Sin"
Al-Qaida, the oldest network, continues to drive violence as part of a spiritual battle against what it sees as a morally corrupt system. Its motivations: promoting extremist Islam through global jihad, including attacks on Western interests.
Key Muslim Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, and parts of North and East Africa; funds flow to high-risk countries like Lebanon, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Financing Methods: International networks, drug trade, cash smuggling, exploitation of humanitarian aid, and informal value transfer systems (IVTS) like hawala; use of front companies, cash storage sites (including in Dubai), and laundering through proxies and layers.
Canadian Connections: Funds from Canada are transferred to operational countries; Al-Qaida is ranked as a leading RMVE (religiously motivated violent extremism) group in Canadian financing threats.
Trends and Risks: Rapid adaptation, sharp decline in foreign fighters since 2019 (less money for travel); limited crypto use. Risks: exploitation of conflicts and natural disasters.
[Insert Map: World map with activity points for Al-Qaida – Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria – and arrows to Canada, to highlight cash flow. This will illustrate the global scope at a glance.]
Daesh (ISIS): From the Forgotten Caliphate to Local Networks – Remote Inspiration and Digital Cash
Daesh, the Sunni jihadist group that aspired to a transnational Islamic state, continues to drive spiritual violence against the "system of sin." Its motivations: building a religious empire through lone-wolf attacks and online inspiration.
Key Muslim Countries: Syria, Iraq, Africa (West and East), and local "provinces"; funds to displaced camps in northeast Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Financing Methods: International networks, drug trade, cash smuggling, IVTS, crypto (Bitcoin and Tether) via Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook; transfers of tens of thousands of dollars monthly from Somalia to the Middle East.
Canadian Connections: Daesh is the leading group receiving funds from Canada per FINTRAC 2022 reports; inspiration for Canadian fighters; arrests: 2022 – Canadian citizen from Daesh camp in Syria; 2023 – Toronto resident for fundraising via crowdfunding.
Trends and Risks: Rise in inspiration for "lone fighters" in 2023; territorial decline since 2019, but growing crypto use for small donations. Risks: humanitarian NGOs and social media.
[Insert Line Graph: FINTRAC reporting trend on funds to Daesh from 2019 to 2024, showing decline in fighters but rise in digital transfers.]
Hamas and Hezbollah: with Iranian Support
These two Sunni-Shiite groups blend political-religious motivations: Hamas seeks Palestinian resistance through extremist Sunni Islam; Hezbollah represents populist Shiite Islam with pro-Iranian goals.
Key Muslim Countries: Hamas – Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria; Hezbollah – Lebanon, Syria, Latin America, Africa, and Middle East; trade via Montreal port for luxury cars to Lebanon.
Financing Methods: Exploitation of MSBs and banks, crypto (Bitcoin, Tether), state support from Iran via trade laundering (oil, weapons), charities, criminal trade (cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, Captagon), and IVTS.
Canadian Connections: Hezbollah second in FINTRAC 2022 ranking for receiving funds from Canada; small recruitment networks in Canada; Hamas – financial support from Canada.
Trends and Risks: Reliance on Iran; crypto rise since 2019; partnerships with organized crime. Risks: correspondent banking in Lebanon, used car trade.
[Insert Table: Comparison between Hamas and Hezbollah – Columns: Motivations, Countries, Financing Methods, Canadian Connections, to highlight similarities and differences.]
Al-Shabaab and the Taliban: From Local Taxes to Global Crypto
Al-Shabaab seeks an Islamic state in Somalia through jihad; the Taliban controls Afghanistan and provides shelter to transnational groups.
Key Muslim Countries: Al-Shabaab – Somalia, East Africa; Taliban, Afghanistan; transfers to Middle East.
Financing Methods: Al-Shabaab, IVTS, crypto (tens of thousands of dollars monthly); Taliban,economic taxation (taxes, tariffs), front companies in Dubai, IVTS.
Canadian Connections: Part of RMVE threats; funds from Canada to high-risk areas.
Trends and Risks: Al-Shabaab, recovery despite territorial losses; Taliban, economic control since 2021. Risks: IVTS and crypto for concealment.
[Insert Diagram: Radar Chart of Financing Risks – Axes: Methods, Countries, Canadian Connections – for Al-Shabaab and Taliban, for visual comparison.]
2025 Trends: Crypto, Organized Crime, and Online Inspiration
The report notes changes: a more complex terror landscape with rises in IMVE (ideologically motivated violent extremism) and PMVE (politically motivated), stronger ties to organized crime, and crypto use for small transfers. Decline in foreign fighters (~190 Canadians abroad, 60 returned), but rise in online inspiration. FINTRAC reports Daesh and Hezbollah as top targets. Recommendations: Strengthen oversight of MSBs, crypto, and charities; international cooperation against IVTS.
Canada, with its strong system, remains a frontline, but these Islamist threats, rooted in turbulent Muslim countries, demand constant vigilance. This report is a warning: the money flows, and the motivations remain strong.
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