Complaint to NSIRA Against the RCMP

Experts are expecting NSIRA to accept and review the case since it deals with terrorism and mental health issues.

In August 2019, the case was sent to the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), a new governmental agency promoting transparency of Canada’s national security issues. The complaint pertains to the RCMP’s role in the FBI’s entrapment of Abdulrahman. The RCMP who was aware of Abdulrahman’s mental health and substance issues did not stop him from going to the United States. The RCMP unlawfully obtained Abdulrahman’s medical reports from CAMH. Instead of raising a red flag, contacting Abdulrahman’s parents or getting him treatment, they opted to cooperate with the FBI by giving them this information.

As Professor Stephanie Carvin, a national security expert at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, explained “NSIRA will have to decide if this was the correct policy to follow in its review.” Experts are expecting NSIRA to accept and review the case since it deals with terrorism and mental health issues. This case is currently under review by NSIRA.

“Sending the case to be reviewed by NSIRA was absolutely the right move. NSIRA has the authority and mandate to look at operational information to review the files across government agencies.”

Stephanie Carvin

Assistant Professor of International Relations, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs

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"What makes this story even more disturbing is that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) knowingly participated in this sting with the FBI. They unlawfully obtained Abdulrahman’s medical records that described his mental health vulnerabilities and provided them to the FBI to better manipulate this damaged youth.

This raises serious human rights concerns of discriminatory investigations, targeting vulnerable youths such as Abdulrahman, who had no previous history of violence or criminality, until drawn in by a U.S. government actively involved in developing the plot, persuading and pressuring the target to participate."

Dennis Edney

Canadian Defence lawyer