United States and Canada Target Key International Fundraiser for Foreign Terrorist Organization PFLP

Today, in a joint action with Canada, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, or “Samidoun,” a sham charity that serves as an international fundraiser for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization. The PFLP, which was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. Department of State in October 1997 and October 2001, respectively, uses Samidoun to maintain fundraising operations in both Europe and North America. Also designated today is Khaled Barakat, a member of the PFLP’s leadership. Together, Samidoun and Barakat play critical roles in external fundraising for the PFLP. Today’s action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended.

In a coordinated effort, the Government of Canada has listed Samidoun as a terrorist entity under its Criminal Code, effective Friday, Oct. 11. The listing of an entity is a public means of identifying a group or individual as being associated with terrorism. The Criminal Code prohibits certain actions in relation to terrorist groups, including those related to terrorist financing, such as knowingly dealing with any property that belongs to a terrorist.

Read more: Department of Treasury