Calgary Man Gets Jail Time for Posting ISIS Videos on TikTok

The Calgary Courts Centre is seen in an undated file photo. The Canadian Press

A Calgary man has been given six years in prison for posting Islamic State (ISIS) propaganda videos on social media.

In December 2023, Zakarya Rida Hussein pleaded guilty to one of four terrorism charges he was facing. On Sept. 13 he was sentenced for facilitating terrorist activity, according to a Public Prosecution Service Canada (PPSC) news release.

Court documents said Hussein in May 2023 posted a TikTok video that contributed to or facilitated terrorist activity. Hussein admitted he owned the social media accounts where the ISIS recruitment videos and propaganda were shared several times, PPSC said.

“He also admitted to sharing a bomb-making video with a user online, and to having written instructions for the same type of device into a notebook seized from his residence,” the news release said.

The court agreed to a  joint submission between the PPSC and Hussein’s lawyer requesting a six-year jail sentence.

Hussein will also need to provide a DNA sample so law enforcement can create a profile for its database, according to the release.

The other charges against Hussein have been stayed, PPSC said.

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the use of the internet to promote ideologically motivated violence and society’s condemnation of terrorism,” PPSC director George Dolhai said.

The sentencing comes two weeks after a 20-year-old Pakistan citizen who was living in Canada was arrested for his role in planning an ISIS attack in New York.

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan (also known as Shahzeb Jadoon) was arrested and charged with attempting to provide support to the terrorist group, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a Sept. 6 news release.

Khan was allegedly planning to attack a Jewish Centre. U.S. authorities said the goal was to kill as many Jews as possible, in the name of ISIS.

He has also been charged with attempting to leave Canada to commit an offence for a terrorist group, participating in the activities of a terrorist group, and conspiracy to commit an offence by violating U.S. immigration law.

In July, Canadian law enforcement officials charged a father and son who were allegedly planning an ISIS-style attack in Toronto.

RCMP said the men were in the advanced stages of a serious, violent attack.

Ahmed Eldidi, 62, and Mostafa Eldidi, 26, are facing charges of participation in the activities of a terrorist group, facilitating terrorist activity, one count each of possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, and conspiracy to commit murder.

Ahmed Elidid is also facing a charge of aggravated assault.