Chief Of Canadian Spy Agency Warns ISIS Daesh Has Linked With Boko Haram, Spreads Presence To Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan
The chief of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS, disclosed on Monday the radical extremists, ISIS Daesh has spread its presence outside of Iraq and Syria. Now thanks to media, it is now present in Afghanistan, Libya and Pakistan, Michael Coulombe said.
At the Senate defence committee meeting on Monday, Coulombe revealed that the Boko Haram had formally pledged allegiance to ISIS. "ISIS started in Iraq and Syria, but what we're seeing now, and you've seen it in media, it's spreading in Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan," Coulombe said. Boko Haram is one of the world’s recognised Islamist terrorist movements based in north-east Nigeria.
The CSIS made the revelations as part of discussions into the proposed Bill C-44 -- a measure meant to expand the agency’s powers outside of Canadian borders. Apart from Coulombe, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney, privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien and former CSIS assistant director of intelligence Ray Boisvert were also in the meeting.
When enacted into law, confidential sources used in national security cases will receive blanket protection under C-44. Their identities could even be undisclosed to a judge. Moreover, the CSIS will have the proper measure to expand operations both inside and outside of Canada, regardless of them breaking the laws in other countries.
The proposed bill would include the following:
· Allow some exceptions, including disclosure of informants' identities "if the human source and the [CSIS] director consent to the disclosure of that information."
· Lay out the process by which a judge could order that an exception be made.
· Make it an offence to divulge any information that would lead to the disclosure of the identity of a CSIS employee "who was, is or is likely to become engaged in covert operational activities."
To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail: e.misa@ibtimes.com.au.
Related: