Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): A 19-year-old man from Calgary has been found guilty of breaching court-ordered conditions after continuing to post extremist content online, prompting a tense exchange with a youth court judge over his expressed beliefs.
The teenager, whose identity is protected under a publication ban imposed by the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was convicted Monday after Justice Todd LaRochelle ruled that he violated a terrorism peace bond. The conditions required him to stay off social media and avoid certain locations, including synagogues.
Court heard that the young man resumed posting videos linked to ISIS propaganda and shared pro-Nazi material online, despite explicit restrictions. He was also found to have taken a selfie at a synagogue, another violation of his court order.
“The behaviour is racist, homophobic and bigoted,” Justice LaRochelle said in court.
During the hearing, the teen attempted to justify his actions by telling the judge he uses the internet to educate himself about Nazi history, claiming its supporters were also victims of violence. The judge cut off the argument, stating he could not force the young man to change his beliefs but made clear the conduct itself was unacceptable.
“I want you to do the right thing,” LaRochelle told him, urging the teen to reflect on the widespread harm caused by extremist ideologies over the past century.
Prosecutor Kent Brown told the court the pro-Nazi material appeared to represent a new ideological direction for the accused. Both Brown and defence lawyer Curtis Mennie jointly recommended an 18-month probation period, including strict conditions prohibiting the viewing, creation or distribution of content that promotes hatred or terrorism.
The proposed conditions would also bar the teen from attending 2SLGBTQ+ events, visiting synagogues, or posting online about those communities. Lawyers on both sides acknowledged that further violations would likely result in incarceration.
The teen was first placed on a terrorism peace bond in 2023 following a national RCMP investigation that led to his arrest alongside several other youths. A report prepared at the time described him as having an obsessive fixation on extremist ideology, violence and weapons, and identified him as a high risk for joining an extremist group.
Justice John Shaw, who presided over the earlier proceedings, warned that any failure to comply with court conditions could lead to jail time.
Court records show the teen was part of a Snapchat group that shared ISIS recruitment material, execution videos and propaganda glorifying violence, including content targeting the 2SLGBTQ+ community. In total, three youths were placed on terrorism peace bonds as a result of the investigation.
A fourth individual, Zakarya Hussein, who was 20 at the time, pleaded guilty to facilitating terrorist activity and was sentenced to six years in prison. Hussein admitted to posting extremist material and instructions for making explosives, and to researching potential attacks targeting Calgary’s 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Justice LaRochelle is expected to issue a formal sentencing decision in four months. In the meantime, the court strongly encouraged the teen to participate in counselling and programs aimed at addressing ideological extremism.
