OTTAWA — An organization that was formally branded a terrorist organization last spring has been denied permission by Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney to raise money to fight the move.
The Canadian branch of the International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy is asking the Federal Court of Canada to set aside Blaney's decision and affirm its right to solicit funds to pay a lawyer.
Any person or group on Canada's terrorist list may have their assets seized, and there are criminal penalties for aiding listed entities with the aim of helping them carry out extremist activities.
The group, known as IRFAN-Canada, argues the anti-terrorism provision doesn't prohibit it from collecting funds for the sole purpose of retaining legal counsel to provide advice and help it challenge the listing.
In an application filed in Federal Court, IRFAN-Canada says that "out of an abundance of caution" it asked Blaney to confirm this legal position, or at least grant an exemption so it could raise fees to pay a lawyer.
Blaney told the group late last month he would not authorize an exemption.
