Overview

Haleema Mustafa is a Canadian jihadist and alleged member of ISIS. Mustafa is currently charged with two terrorism-related offenses for attempting to join ISIS in Syria with her husband, Ikar Mao.John Paul Tasker, “Toronto-area woman arrested on terrorism charges after travel to Turkey,” CBC News, August 26, 2020, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/toronto-woman-arrested-terrorism-charges-1.5701147.

Mustafa is from Markham, Ontario. Her father, Shahzad Mustafa, is a businessman who also has appeared at events denouncing Islamic extremism. Mustafa studied human rights and equity studies at York University, where she also worked with newly arrived immigrants to Canada. Mustafa had a large online presence as she was an advocate for the hijab as a fashion statement, even appearing on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning, where she stated the hijab was how she portrayed her “modesty and my religion.”Katie Nicholson and Jason Ho, “RCMP investigating whether Canadian newlyweds detained in Turkey were radicalized,” CBC News, October 15, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rcmp-investigating-whether-canadian-newlyweds-detained-in-turkey-were-radicalized-1.5266465.

In December 2018, Mustafa married Ikar Mao in Mississauga, Canada.Katie Nicholson and Jason Ho, “RCMP investigating whether Canadian newlyweds detained in Turkey were radicalized,” CBC News, October 15, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rcmp-investigating-whether-canadian-newlyweds-detained-in-turkey-were-radicalized-1.5266465. According to reports, Mustafa’s family had previously feared that Mao had an interest in ISIS and would plan to take Mustafa with him to Syria.Katie Nicholson and Jason Ho, “RCMP investigating whether Canadian newlyweds detained in Turkey were radicalized,” CBC News, October 15, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rcmp-investigating-whether-canadian-newlyweds-detained-in-turkey-were-radicalized-1.5266465.

In June 2019, Mustafa and Mao, traveled to Turkey. According to Mao’s Couchsurfing.com profile, he had looked for a place to stay in the Turkish city of Sanliurfa, which is close to Syria’s border, as he and Mustafa allegedly sought to learn Turkish and Arabic.Terry Haig, “Toronto-area woman faces terror charges after alleged attempt to join ISIL,” Radio Canada International, August 27, 2020, https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2020/08/27/toronto-area-woman-faces-terror-charges-after-alleged-attemp-to-join-isil/.

In July 2019, Mustafa and Mao were arrested on suspicion of attempting to cross the Turkish border to join ISIS in Syria.John Paul Tasker, “Toronto-area woman arrested on terrorism charges after travel to Turkey,” CBC News, August 26, 2020, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/toronto-woman-arrested-terrorism-charges-1.5701147. They were held in Turkish custody until October 22, 2019, when they were released without charges. Immediately after their release, they were deported to Canada.Katie Nicholson and Jason Ho, “RCMP investigating whether Canadian newlyweds detained in Turkey were radicalized,” CBC News, October 15, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rcmp-investigating-whether-canadian-newlyweds-detained-in-turkey-were-radicalized-1.5266465; Katie Nicholson and Jason Ho, “Canadian facing 2 terrorism-related charges denied bail in Ontario court,” CBC News, December 12, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ikar-mao-court-appearance-1.5392223. It is still unknown if Mao or Mustafa engaged or participated in any extremist activities while in Turkey or Canada as both countries have deemed details of the case to remain confidential.Katie Nicholson and Jason Ho, “RCMP investigating whether Canadian newlyweds detained in Turkey were radicalized,” CBC News, October 15, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rcmp-investigating-whether-canadian-newlyweds-detained-in-turkey-were-radicalized-1.5266465; Katie Nicholson and Jason Ho, “Canadian couple released from Turkish detention without charges,” CBC News, October 16, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canadian-couple-turkey-released-haleema-mustafa-ikar-mao-1.5323909.

Following their return to Canada, Mao was arrested and denied bail. According to CBC News, a Turkish court on December 5, 2019, heard allegations that a cell phone belonging to Mao had received ISIS videos via the encrypted messaging app Telegram, and that the couple left a letter for their families claiming that they intended to join ISIS.Katie Nicholson and Jason Ho, “Canadian arrested in Turkey this summer charged with terror offences,” CBC News, December 6, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ikar-mao-court-1.5386952. On December 6, 2019, Mao was charged by a Brampton, Ontario court with leaving Canada to participate in the activities of a terrorist group and seeking to participate in the activities of a terrorist group.Terry Haig, “Toronto-area woman faces terror charges after alleged attempt to join ISIL,” Radio Canada International, August 27, 2020, https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2020/08/27/toronto-area-woman-faces-terror-charges-after-alleged-attemp-to-join-isil/; John Paul Tasker, “Toronto-area woman arrested on terrorism charges after travel to Turkey,” CBC News, August 26, 2020, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/toronto-woman-arrested-terrorism-charges-1.5701147. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.Katie Nicholson and Jason Ho, “Canadian arrested in Turkey this summer charged with terror offences,” CBC News, December 6, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ikar-mao-court-1.5386952.

On August 26, 2020, Mustafa was arrested in Markham, Ontario.John Paul Tasker, “Toronto-area woman arrested on terrorism charges after travel to Turkey,” CBC News, August 26, 2020, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/toronto-woman-arrested-terrorism-charges-1.5701147. Mustafa faces two terrorism counts: leaving Canada to participate in the activities of a terrorist group and participation in the activities of a terrorist group.Stewart Bell, “Woman arrested in Toronto area for allegedly trying to join ISIS,” Global News, August 27, 2020, https://globalnews.ca/news/7299184/woman-arrested-toronto-trying-to-join-isis/. Further details of Mustafa’s case cannot be reported due to a court-ordered publication ban. Mustafa is currently scheduled to make her first court appearance on August 31, 2020.Stewart Bell, “Canadian ‘extremist travellers’ a significant concern, RCMP says after ISIS-related arrest,” Global News, August 27, 2020, https://globalnews.ca/news/7301037/canadian-extremist-travellers-a-significant-concern/. If convicted, Mustafa faces 20 years in prison as each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.Katie Nicholson and Jason Ho, “Canadian arrested in Turkey this summer charged with terror offences,” CBC News, December 6, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ikar-mao-court-1.5386952. On March 31, 2021, Mustafa was granted bail.Katie Nicholson, “Ontario woman facing terror-related charges granted bail,” CBC, March 31, 2021, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/haleema-mustafa-bail-1.5970940.