samidoun

{{Infobox organization

| name = Samidoun

| full_name = Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network

| native_name = صامدون

| native_name_lang = ar

| logo = File:Samidoun logo.svg

| logo_size = 300

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| logo_caption = Samidoun's logo

| image = Samidoun (Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network), Rotterdam-Centrum, Rotterdam (2023) 02.jpg

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| caption = Samidoun stand in Rotterdam (March 2023)

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| formation = {{start date and age|2011}}

| founder = Charlotte Kates and Khaled Barakat

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| type = Nonprofit

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| headquarters = Vancouver, British Columbia

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| board_of_directors = Charlotte Kates
Dave Diewert
Thomas Gerhard Hofland

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| parent_organization = Alliance for Global Justice

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| website = {{URL|https://samidoun.net/}}

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Samidoun ({{langx|ar|صامدون|Ṣāmidūn|steadfast}}—see sumud for the cultural context of this term), officially Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, is a pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel advocacy group based in Canada that has been designated as a terrorist group by a number of global governments.{{Cite news

|title=US and Canada impose sanctions, blacklist pro-Palestinian group Samidoun

|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/15/us-and-canada-impose-sanctions-blacklist-pro-palestinian-group-samidoun

|access-date=2024-10-15

|publisher=Al Jazeera

|language=en}} Since the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel and ensuing Gaza war, Samidoun has been a prominent organizer of Palestinian solidarity protests in the U.S. and Canada. Samidoun's co-founder, Charlotte Kates, called the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack "a brave and heroic operation" and said "That is something we stand by 100%." Samidoun, which has been described as "pro-Hamas", has celebrated and re-enacted the October 7 attack.{{cite news |title=Pro-Hamas group that helped organize college protests is a 'sham charity,' Treasury says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/-hamas-group-helped-organize-college-protests-sham-charity-treasury-sa-rcna175529 |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=NBC News |date=15 October 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Canada lists pro-Palestinian group Samidoun as terrorist entity |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/samidoun-terrorist-entity-1.7352424 |access-date=18 June 2025 |publisher=CBC |date=October 15, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Heller |first1=Mathilda |title=Samidoun's Brussels festival re-enacts Hamas massacre, sparks outrage |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-857117 |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=9 June 2025 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Heller |first1=Mathilda |title=Jewish group seeks dissolution of Samidoun France following Brussels Oct 7 reenactment |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-857503 |access-date=18 June 2025 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=June 12, 2025 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Lidor |first1=Canaan |title=Actors reportedly celebrate Oct. 7 in Brussels street show |url=https://www.jns.org/actors-reportedly-celebrate-oct-7-in-brussels-street-show/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=JNS.org |date=9 June 2025}} Samidoun and its fiscal sponsor, the Arizona-based Alliance for Global Justice, have been de-platformed from a number of major financial platforms.

Samidoun has been accused by a number of governments of raising funds for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a political and militant group that the United States, European Union, and several other countries designate as a terrorist organization.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-08 |title=United States and Canada Target Key International Fundraiser for Foreign Terrorist Organization PFLP |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2646 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=U.S. Department of the Treasury |language=en}} On that basis, Samidoun has been designated as a terrorist group by Israel{{Cite web

|date=2021-02-28

|title=Israel designates PFLP international branch as a terrorist organization

|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/samidoun-declared-terrorist-organization-due-to-dflp-ties-660464

|access-date=2024-10-16

|website=The Jerusalem Post

|language=en}} and Canada. Samidoun has also been restricted by Germany and the United States.{{Cite web

|date=2024-09-20

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

|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2646

|access-date=2024-10-16

|website=United States Department of the Treasury

|language=en}}

Leaders of Samidoun have led "death to Canada, death to the United States and death to Israel" chants and have said that the chants accurately reflect the group's goal of destroying "colonial, capitalist states."{{cite news |last1=Hopper |first1=Tristin |title=Samidoun doubles down, says 'death to Canada' an accurate summation of its goals |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/samidoun-doubles-down-says-death-to-canada-an-accurate-summation-of-its-goals |access-date=18 June 2025 |publisher=National Post |date=October 14, 2024}} Samidoun coordinator Mohammed Khatib has called for the "liberation of Palestine, and the liberation of all of us, and the defeat of the E.U., and Zionism, and the U.S. and all of this imperialist capitalist society."{{cite news |last1=Koningsveld |first1=Akiva Van |title=Netherlands bans entry of Samidoun leader |url=https://www.jns.org/netherlands-issues-entry-ban-on-samidoun-leader/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=JNS.org |date=30 October 2024}}

History

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Samidoun was founded in 2011 after a hunger strike in Israeli prisons organized by the PFLP.{{cite web

| last=Carrigg

| first=David

| title=Four things to know about Vancouver-based terror group Samidoun

| website=Vancouver Sun

| date=2024-10-16 | url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/four-things-to-know-about-vancouver-based-terror-group-samidoun

| access-date=2024-10-16}} Samidoun was incorporated as a federal not-for-profit agency in Canada in 2021.{{Cite web

|url=https://www.newwestrecord.ca/bc-news/jewish-association-wants-vancouver-pro-palestine-group-banned-7876509

|title=Jewish association wants Vancouver pro-Palestine group banned

|date=24 November 2023|website=New West Record}}

Samidoun is led by Charlotte Lynn Kates, Dave Diewert and Thomas Gerhard Hofland. Kates is a New Jersey native and Rutgers University graduate who is married to Samidoun founder, Khaled Barakat, who was born near Jerusalem. Barakat is considered to be a PFLP leader by the US government. He was deported from the United States in 2003.{{Cite news |last=Hedges |first=Chris |date=18 July 2003 |title=PUBLIC LIVES; Law Student With a History of Taking Left Turns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/18/nyregion/public-lives-law-student-with-a-history-of-taking-left-turns.html |access-date=17 October 2024 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/terry-glavin-the-curious-case-of-khaled-barakat|title=Terry Glavin: The curious case of Khaled Barakat| publisher= National Post}} The couple are banned from entering the European Union.{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/charlotte-kates-samidoun-iran|title=Vancouver Samidoun leader praises October 7 on Iranian television|publisher= National Post}} Kates was arrested in April 2024 after she praised the October 7 attacks, led a chant of "Long live October 7," and referred to a number of designated terrorist organizations as heroes at a demonstration in Vancouver.{{Cite news

|last=Proctor

|first=Jason

|date=1 May 2024

|title=Comments at pro-Palestinian demonstration lead to hate crime investigation

|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/hate-investigation-demonstration-comments-1.7190914

|access-date=17 October 2024

|work=CBC News}} She travelled to Iran to accept an Islamic Human Rights and Human Dignity Award in August 2024. B'nai Brith Canada is petitioning the Canadian government to deport both Kates and Barakat.{{Cite web

|url=https://www.bnaibrith.ca/petition-deport-charlotte-kates-and-khaled-barakat/

|title=PETITION: Deport Charlotte Kates and Khaled Barakat

|first=Jonah

|last=Fried

|date=5 December 2023

|website=B'nai Brith Canada}}{{Cite web

|url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/vancouver-activist-appears-on-iranian-tv-months-after-rally-arrest-1.7004313

|title=Vancouver activist appears on Iranian TV months after rally arrest

|date=16 August 2024

|website=British Columbia}} Kates has said that Hamas and Hezbollah are "not engaging in terrorism" but are "engaging in a national liberation struggle."{{cite news |last1=Weichselbaum |first1=Simone |last2=Atkins |first2=Chloe |title=When does free speech cross the line into breaking U.S. anti-terrorism laws? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/free-speech-cross-line-breaking-us-anti-terrorism-laws-rcna177542 |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=NBC News |date=1 November 2024 |language=en}} As of May 2025, the Canadian government had not decided whether to approve the hate crime charges against Kates.{{cite news |last1=Little |first1=Simon |title=Still no decision on hate charges for B.C. woman 1 year after praising Hamas attack |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/11199403/charlotte-kates-charge-decision-delay-1-year/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=Global News |date=May 27, 2025}}

In 2021, Israel's Defense Ministry designated the association as a terrorist organization, based on recommendations from the Shin Bet and the National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing. The designation alleged that, although its official aim is to assist in securing prisoners' release, it effectively operates as a front for the PFLP abroad.

In November 2023, the association was banned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior of Germany for allegedly distributing candy to celebrate the October 7 attacks.{{cite web

|access-date=October 15, 2024

|date=Nov 2, 2023

|publisher=Federal Ministry of the Interior

|title=HAMAS and Samidoun banned in Germany |url=https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/pressemitteilungen/EN/2023/11/banned-hamas-samidoun.html}}{{cite news

|access-date=October 15, 2024

|date=October 12, 2023

|publisher=Reuters

|title=Germany bans pro-Palestinian group Samidoun

|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/germany-bans-pro-palestinian-group-samidoun-2023-10-12/}}

On 1 October 2024, the Parliament of the Netherlands voted to recommend that Samidoun be designated as a terrorist organization.{{Cite web

|date=2024-10-01

|title=Rechtsstaat en Rechtsorde

|url=https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/detail?id=2024Z14900&did=2024D36371

|access-date=2024-10-31

|website=www.tweedekamer.nl

|language=nl}}{{Cite web

|date=2024-10-10

|title=Dutch Parliament votes to designate Samidoun as terror organization

|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-824116

|access-date=2024-10-16

|website=The Jerusalem Post

|language=en}}

Meta Platforms and YouTube have blocked certain online platforms of the organization, citing breaches of their community guidelines.

= October 2024 Vancouver rally =

File:صامدون in Barcelona (Spain).jpg Samidoun sticker on a pole in Barcelona, Spain]]

On the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, a speaker at a rally in Vancouver organized by Samidoun identified themselves with Hezbollah and Hamas and called for death to the United States, Canada, and Israel. Participants at the same event were seen burning a Canadian flag.{{Cite web

|title=Vancouver Police probe Oct. 7 rally where 'death to Canada' cry went up

|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10800899/political-party-leaders-condemn-hateful-rhetoric-at-b-c-protest/

|access-date=2024-10-15

|website=Global News

|language=en-US}} Samidoun confirmed and defended the actions, saying they accurately reflected its goal of "destroying the colonialist, capitalist state of Canada" and stand by the "death to Canada" phrase "as the call to action that it is".{{Cite web

|last=Hopper

|first=Tristin |date=October 14, 2024

|title=Samidoun doubles down, says 'death to Canada' an accurate summation of its goals

|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/samidoun-doubles-down-says-death-to-canada-an-accurate-summation-of-its-goals

|website=National Post}}{{Cite web

|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10800899/political-party-leaders-condemn-hateful-rhetoric-at-b-c-protest/

|title=Vancouver Police probe Oct. 7 rally where 'death to Canada' cry went up

|website=Global News}}

On 15 October 2024, in a joint action, the Government of Canada declared Samidoun a terrorist entity, and the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned Samidoun as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.The SDN status is distinct from the Foreign Terrorist Organization status; that is, the United States did not designate Samidoun a terrorist organization. The United States sanctioned Samidoun for alleged association with terrorist organizations, calling Samidoun a "sham charity." Samidoun is on the SDN list under the Specially Designated Global Terrorist program, which includes both organizations considered capable of terrorism and their alleged associates.{{Cite web

|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2024/10/government-of-canada-lists-samidoun-as-a-terrorist-entity.html

|title=Government of Canada lists Samidoun as a terrorist entity

|date=15 October 2024

|website=www.canada.ca}}{{Cite web

|date=2024-09-20

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

|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2646

|access-date=2024-10-17

|website=United States Department of the Treasury

|language=en}}{{Cite web

|title=Samidoun, group behind 'death to Canada' chant, listed as terrorist entity

|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10812072/samidoun-canada-terrorist-entity/

|access-date=2024-10-15

|website=Global News

|language=en-US}}{{Cite news

|title=US, Canada impose sanctions on Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network

|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/us-canada-impose-sanctions-samidoun-palestinian-prisoner-solidarity

|access-date=2024-10-15

|publisher=Middle East Eye

|language=en}}{{Cite web

|date=2024-10-15 |title=US slaps sanctions on 'sham charity' fundraising for Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine

|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-slaps-sanctions-on-sham-charity-fundraising-for-popular-front-for-liberation-of-palestine/7823098.html

|access-date=2024-10-15

|website=Voice of America |language=en}}{{cite web

|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/-hamas-group-helped-organize-college-protests-sham-charity-treasury-sa-rcna175529

|title=Pro-Hamas group that helped organize college protests is a 'sham charity,' Treasury says

|date=15 October 2024

|publisher=NBC News}}

Funding

Samidoun's fiscal sponsor is the Arizona-based Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ). As the fiscal sponsor for Samidoun, AFGJ and Samidoun are legally indistinguishable.{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Andrew |title=Soros-Backed Dark Money Giant Bankrolled the Fiscal Sponsor of US-Designated Terror Financier Samidoun, Tax Forms Show |url=https://freebeacon.com/democrats/soros-backed-dark-money-giant-bankrolled-the-fiscal-sponsor-of-us-designated-terror-financier-samidoun-tax-forms-show/ |access-date=17 June 2025 |publisher=Washington Free Beacon |date=13 November 2024}}

Since 2019, various financial platforms, including American Express, PayPal, Donorbox, Plaid, and Discover, have stopped processing funding for Samidoun and the AFGJ, "citing fears of relations to terror activity." In February 2023, the AFGJ announced that the company that handled its credit card transactions had blocked its ability to process donations due to allegations that Samidoun was involved in terrorist activities.{{cite news |last1=Merlin |first1=Ohad |title=Canada lists Samidoun as a terrorist entity |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-824756 |access-date=17 June 2025 |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=15 October 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Arria |first1=Michael |title=Human rights org loses fundraising platform |url=https://mondoweiss.net/2023/02/u-s-based-human-rights-group-loses-fundraising-platform-over-association-with-palestinian-ngo/ |access-date=17 June 2025 |work=Mondoweiss |date=23 February 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Weichselbaum |first1=Simone |last2=Chaidez |first2=Alexandra |title=Who's behind the pro-Palestinian protests that are disrupting Biden's campaign events and blocking city streets? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/s-palestinian-protests-us-rcna143666 |access-date=17 June 2025 |work=NBC News |date=20 March 2024 |language=en}} Donors to AFGJ have included the Tides Foundation and the New Venture Fund, although the New Venture Fund announced after the October 7 terrorist attacks that it would discontinue all funding to AFGJ, saying "We condemn terrorism and violence against civilians in all forms and do not support any projects or provide any grants to organizations that fund terrorism." In November 2023, the Schmidt Family Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Arnold Ventures also pledged to discontinue support of the AFGJ. The Tides Foundation did not announce plans to discontinue support of AFGJ.{{cite news |last1=Kaminsky |first1=Gabe |title=Terror-tied charity faces uncertain future as liberal donors and payment processors jump ship |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2577243/terror-tied-charity-faces-uncertain-future-as-liberal-donors-and-payment-processors-jump-ship/ |access-date=17 June 2025 |publisher=The Washington Examiner |date=13 November 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Kaminsky |first1=Gabe |title=Liberal Ford Foundation to stop funding Palestinian terror-tied group: ‘Years of warnings’ |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2579782/liberal-ford-foundation-to-stop-funding-palestinian-terror-tied-group-years-of-warnings/ |access-date=17 June 2025 |publisher=The Washington Examiner |date=31 October 2023}}