General

‘Toronto 18’ terror cell member up for release

Despite parole eligibility, Ali Dirie doesn’t expect to be freed

Ali Dirie, one of those convicted in connection with the ‘Toronto 18’ terrorist cell, appeared at a parole hearing in Montreal on Monday saying he was a changed man. “I still oppose it,” Dirie said of the war in Afghanistan, “but I don’t intend to bring about change by damaging Canada to make them change their ways.” Dirie, who was sentenced to seven years behind bars last October, has been in jail since 2005, or before the police arrested the other members of the terrorist cell in 2006. The judge in his case ordered he serve at least one of the two years left on his sentence after time served before he could apply for parole. Dirie isn’t hopeful the National Parole Board will give him his freedom and he may be right: the team charged with monitoring him believes he still poses a threat.

Toronto Star

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