Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ottawa jihadi kept to himself, didn't have close friends, says acquaintance

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Dec, 2014 10:49 AM

    OTTAWA — John Maguire, a former Ottawa man who appears in a new extremist recruiting video, seemed to lack close friends in Canada and kept his distance from others, says an acquaintance who used to pray with him.

    "People had very superficial relationships with him," said Stephane Pressault, who met Maguire four years ago during Friday prayers at the University of Ottawa.

    Pleasantries were exchanged, but no deep ideas were shared, said Pressault, the national co-ordinator with outreach group Project Communitas.

    "When you can't have intimate conversations with someone ... this young man was really quite isolated, no one really knew what he was thinking," Pressault recalled.

    "It's not that he was a loner. But he didn't share his opinions on things. And he didn't have ... a best friend, or a clique, or a group of people that he always turned to.

    "In retrospect, that's alarming."

    Project Communitas is grappling with the phenomenon of Islamic radicalization as part of its mission to foster citizenship, dialogue and youth leadership.

    "I think the common sign is really social isolation," Pressault said.

    "How can we engage these individuals who are isolated, who are not in the mainstream and following the majority of the Muslims in Canada?"

    Maguire's polished propaganda video, released Sunday, urged Muslims to launch indiscriminate attacks against Canadians, similar to those carried out in October in Ottawa and St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.

    Maguire — whose passport was apparently revoked after he left Canada — likely became "fed up" with Canadian society at some point, said Jocelyn Belanger, a psychology professor at the University of Quebec at Montreal who has studied radicalization around the world.

    Belanger surmises Maguire could have been spurred to join radical Islamic militants overseas because he didn't fit in at home and felt insignificant — a typical motivation for extremists.

    "The loss of significance deeply hurts," Belanger told the Senate committee on national security and defence.

    One can regain prominence by building a successful career or becoming a role model, Belanger said, but such accomplishments take time.

    "The highway to significance, if you wish, is fighting for radical ideology — which provides significance through a demonstration of power, harming victims and inducing fear in others."

    This is why propaganda created by the al-Qaida splinter group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, has been so effective, he added: "Their ideology dictates the actions required to become a hero, a martyr, a rock star."

    The government has pointed to the latest video and the spectre of attacks by homegrown radicals as evidence of the need for additional legislative tools to protect Canadians.

    Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney reiterated Monday that new anti-terrorism legislation is coming, but he offered no specifics or even a timeline.

    The government should be "throwing money hand over fist" at the RCMP's fledgling program to counter violent extremism, University of Ottawa law professor Craig Forcese told the committee.

    The problem of radicalization cannot be solved solely through prosecutions and penitentiaries, he warned.

    Canadians must accept that efforts to discourage extremism will go on for years, said Jez Littlewood, who teaches at Carleton University's Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.

    "It involves outreach to communities, it's going to involve a substantial element of trust between communities and authorities for it to work."

    Pressault said it is disturbing to think someone can come to believe Islam means going to fight abroad or to wage war against Canadians.

    "It's something that the whole community is thinking about," he said. "How do we engage these young people who may be prone to that?"

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Calgary man accused of murdering his missing spouse makes brief court appearance

    Calgary man accused of murdering his missing spouse makes brief court appearance
    CALGARY — A Calgary man charged in the murder of his missing spouse after police found human remains in his house has made a brief court appearance.

    Calgary man accused of murdering his missing spouse makes brief court appearance

    Assembly of First Nations meeting honours Manitoba teen who was assaulted

    Assembly of First Nations meeting honours Manitoba teen who was assaulted
    WINNIPEG — A three-day meeting of the Assembly of First Nations begins this morning with a special ceremony to honour Rinelle Harper.

    Assembly of First Nations meeting honours Manitoba teen who was assaulted

    Ottawa asked to lift cap on immigrants Alberta can nominate for permanent jobs

    Ottawa asked to lift cap on immigrants Alberta can nominate for permanent jobs
    EDMONTON — Alberta wants the federal government to lift the lid on the number of economic immigrants it can nominate each year for permanent residence so it can better meet its growing labour needs.

    Ottawa asked to lift cap on immigrants Alberta can nominate for permanent jobs

    Man facing terrorism-related charges in Quebec has case put off until Thursday

    Man facing terrorism-related charges in Quebec has case put off until Thursday
    MONTREAL — A man arrested by Quebec provincial police over an alleged terrorism-related Facebook post had his case delayed until Thursday.

    Man facing terrorism-related charges in Quebec has case put off until Thursday

    B.C. Mountie shot during traffic stop now conscious, speaking to family: RCMP

    B.C. Mountie shot during traffic stop now conscious, speaking to family: RCMP
    The RCMP says a 40-year-old officer who was shot during a traffic stop in B.C.'s Interior is now conscious and speaking to his family.

    B.C. Mountie shot during traffic stop now conscious, speaking to family: RCMP

    Half of B.C. is deemed control zone in effort to stop avian flu in poultry

    Half of B.C. is deemed control zone in effort to stop avian flu in poultry
    Almost half of British Columbia has been designated as a control zone by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in an effort to stop the spread of avian flu in commercial poultry.

    Half of B.C. is deemed control zone in effort to stop avian flu in poultry