9/11 and the War on Terrorism: What It Means for Canadian Islamic Organizations

Abstract

This thesis explores the impact of post-9/11 counterterrorism policies on Muslim charities and non-profit organizations in Canada. Following the September 11 attacks, Canada introduced a series of legislative and regulatory measures, including the Anti- Terrorism Act (2001) and the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, which expanded state surveillance and enforcement powers. Drawing on secondary sources, this research analyzes how these policies disproportionately affected Muslim-led organizations through audits, revocations of charitable status, and heightened scrutiny. The study situates these developments within broader international pressures, especially from the United States and the United Nations, and critically examines their implications for civil liberties, multiculturalism, and the role of Islamic civil society in Canada. By mapping the intersections between national security, legal reform, and racialized governance, the thesis contributes to a growing body of scholarship on securitization and the marginalization of minority communities in the post-9/11 era.