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{{Short description|Palestinian prisoners' rights organization}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                     = Samidoun
| formation                = {{start date and age|2011}}
| full_name                = Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
| native_name              = صامدون
| native_name_lang         = ar
| logo                     = File:Samidoun logo.svg
| logo_size                = 300
| logo_caption             = Samidoun's logo
| image                    = Samidoun (Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network), Rotterdam-Centrum, Rotterdam (2023) 02.jpg
| caption                  = Samidoun stand in [[Rotterdam]] (March 2023)
| founding_location        =
| website                  = {{URL|https://samidoun.net/}}
}}
'''Samidoun''' ({{langx|ar|صامدون|Ṣāmidūn|steadfast}}—see [[sumud]] for the cultural context of this term), officially '''Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network''', is an international pro-[[Palestinian]] advocacy group, founded in 2011. It describes itself as a "network of organizers and activists working to build solidarity with [[Palestinians in Israeli custody|Palestinian prisoners]] in their struggle for freedom."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=About Samidoun |url=https://samidoun.net/about-samidoun/ |access-date=15 October 2024 |website=Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Al Jazeera |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 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> It has chapters in the United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Palestine, and Lebanon.<ref name=":1" /> Since the [[7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel|7 October 2023 attack on Israel]] and ensuing [[Israel–Hamas war|Israel-Hamas war]], Samidoun has been a prominent organizer of [[Israel–Hamas war protests|Palestinian solidarity protests]] in the U.S. and Canada.<ref name='carrigg' />
Samidoun has been accused by states of raising funds for the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]] (PFLP), a political and militant group that the US, European Union, and several other countries proscribe as a [[terrorist organization]].<ref name=":5" /> On that basis, Samidoun has been [[List of designated terrorist groups|designated as a terrorist group]] by Israel<ref name=":6">{{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 {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref> and Canada.<ref name=":0" /> Samidoun has also been restricted by Germany<ref name=":3" /> and the United States.<ref name=":4">{{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=U.S. Department of the Treasury |language=en}}</ref>
==History==
Based in [[Vancouver, British Columbia]], Samidoun was founded in 2011 after a [[hunger strike]] in Israeli prisons organized by the PFLP.<ref name='carrigg'>{{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}}</ref> Samidoun was incorporated as a federal [[not-for-profit agency]] in Canada in 2021.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Samidoun is led by Charlotte Lynn Kates, Dave Diewert and Thomas Gerhard Hofland. Kates is a [[New Jersey]] native and [[Rutgers University]] graduate, 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/terry-glavin-the-curious-case-of-khaled-barakat|title=Terry Glavin: The curious case of Khaled Barakat &#124; National Post}}</ref><ref name='carrigg' /> The couple are banned from entering the European Union.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/charlotte-kates-samidoun-iran|title=Vancouver Samidoun leader praises October 7 on Iranian television &#124; National Post}}</ref> Kates was arrested in April 2024 after she allegedly praised the [[7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel|7 October attacks]] and referred to a number of designated terrorist organizations as heroes at a demonstration in Vancouver.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
In 2021, [[Israel]]'s [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|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.<ref name=":6" />
In November 2023, the association was banned by the [[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|Federal Ministry of the Interior]] of [[Germany]] for distributing [[candy]] to celebrate the [[7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel|October 7 attacks]].<ref>{{cite web|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/}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{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}}</ref>
On 1 October 2024, the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|Parliament]] of the [[Netherlands]] voted to recommend that Samidoun be designated as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Upon that vote, international reports claimed that the Netherlands had actually placed Samidoun on the state's list of terrorist organizations.<ref name="DutchP">{{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 {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref> {{As of|2024|November}}, Samidoun does not appear on the country's list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zaken |first=Ministerie van Buitenlandse |date=2024-10-03 |title=Nationale sanctielijst terrorisme - Rapport - Rijksoverheid.nl |url=https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2015/08/27/nationale-terrorismelijst |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=www.rijksoverheid.nl |language=nl-NL}}</ref>
[[Meta Platforms]] and [[YouTube]] have blocked certain online platforms of the organization, citing breaches of their community guidelines.<ref name="DutchP" />
=== October 2024 Vancouver rally ===
[[File:صامدون in Barcelona (Spain).jpg|thumb|[[Arabic|Arabic language]] 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 America|death to the United States]], Canada, and [[Calls for the destruction of Israel|Israel]]. Participants at the same event were seen [[Flag burning|burning]] a [[Flag of Canada|Canadian flag.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vancouver Police probe Oct. 7 rally where 'death to Canada' cry went up {{!}} Globalnews.ca |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}}</ref> Samidoun confirmed and defended the actions, saying they accurately reflected its goal of "destroying the [[Colonialism|colonialist]], [[Capitalism|capitalist]] state of Canada" and stand by the "death to Canada" phrase "as the call to action that it is".<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 &#124; Globalnews.ca|website=Global News}}</ref>
On 15 October 2024, in a joint action, the [[Government of Canada]] declared Samidoun a terrorist entity, and the [[U.S. Department of the Treasury]] sanctioned Samidoun as a [[Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List|Specially Designated National]].<ref group="note">The SDN status is distinct from the [[United States Department of State list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations|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.</ref><ref>{{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|first=Public Safety|last=Canada|date=15 October 2024|website=www.canada.ca}}</ref><ref>{{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=U.S. Department of the Treasury |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Samidoun, group behind 'death to Canada' chant, listed as terrorist entity {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10812072/samidoun-canada-terrorist-entity/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |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 |website=[[Middle East Eye]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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|publisher=NBC News}}</ref>
== National bans and sanctions ==
Samidoun is listed as a terrorist group by:
* {{flag|Israel}} (since 2021)<ref name=":6" />
* {{flag|Canada}} (since 15 October 2024)<ref name=":4" />
Samidoun is otherwise restricted by the following states:
* {{flag|Germany}} (since 2 November 2023)<ref name=":3" />
* {{flag|United States}} (sanctioned since 15 October 2024)<ref name=":4" />
== Notes ==
<references group="note" />
== See also ==
* [[2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses]]
* [[List of designated terrorist groups]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Commoncats|Samidoun}}
* {{official|https://samidoun.net/}}
[[Category:Palestinian solidarity movement]]
[[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by Israel]]
[[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by Canada]]
[[Category:Palestinian entities subject to the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions]]
[[Category:Banned political parties in Germany]]
[[Category:Political organizations established in 2012]]
[[Category:Anti-Zionist organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Vancouver]]