Saeed and Masoud Rasoul
Encyclopedia
Born in Kurdistan, Saeed Sobrahatollah Muhammad Rasoul and Masoud Rasoul are brothers who moved to Canada with their parents in 1990/91, and were granted Canadian citizenship before settling down in North York, Ontario
. They are alleged to have joined Ansar al-Islam
, and went missing in northern Iraq in 2003.
Former worshippers at Salaheddin Mosque, it is alleged they may have been recruited to fight in Iraq by Hassan Farhat
.
Saeed is a graduate of Seneca College
, who married Ibtisam Salahaddin Muhammad in 1995, the year she immigrated to the country from Iraq. He promised her they would move back to her native Arbil
when they had enough money. On August 20, 2002, the couple left Canada and brought their two children, likely through Syria, to a house they had recently purchased in the Iraqi city. Saeed then began applying for networking engineer jobs, putting in an application to join the United Nations
Kurdistan field office.
On November 2, 2002, Ibtisam was stopped at a routine checkpoint on her way to Biara
, where she told police that her husband was friends with Farhat and working as a computer engineer for Ansar al-Islam
. After the PUK labeled Saeed a "computer expert" who aided the militant group, his wife and two children were placed under house arrest
by police chief Westa Hassan in Sulaymaniya in 2003. Her father then traveled to the mountain stronghold where Saeed was staying, and requested that he offer his daughter a proper divorce, which resulted in a letter being sent back stating "I have divorced you, and am marrying the jihad".
Their younger brother, Abdulla, said the family was "shocked and saddened" and that he didn't believe it was possible as his brother was a "cultural person".
Masoud's Canadian driver's license
SIN card and his Mountain Equipment Co-op
membership card were found by American troops following an attack on an Ansar stronghold.
On March 7 2005, Saeed and Hassan Farhat
were named by CSIS Director Jim Judd
in remarks to the Canadian Senate
, that Farhat "is believed to be a key commander and ideologue with" Ansar al-Islam
and that Saeed was "believed to be a member".
North York, Ontario
North York is a dissolved municipality within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the central part of the northern section of Toronto. As of the 2006 Census, it has a population of 635,370. The official 2001 census count was 608,288...
. They are alleged to have joined Ansar al-Islam
Ansar al-Islam
Ansar al-Islam is a Sunni Islamist group of Iraqis, promoting a radical interpretation of Islam, close to the official Saudi ideology of Wahhabism with strict application of Sharia. The group was formed in the northern provinces of Iraq near the Iranian border, and previously had established...
, and went missing in northern Iraq in 2003.
Former worshippers at Salaheddin Mosque, it is alleged they may have been recruited to fight in Iraq by Hassan Farhat
Hassan Farhat
Born in Telafa, Iraq, Hassan Farhat was the founder and Imam of Salaheddin Mosque in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada....
.
Saeed is a graduate of Seneca College
Seneca College
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a Canadian public college in the greater Toronto area. Seneca College is currently Canada's largest college with approximately 108,000 students.-History:...
, who married Ibtisam Salahaddin Muhammad in 1995, the year she immigrated to the country from Iraq. He promised her they would move back to her native Arbil
Arbil
Arbil / Hewlêr is the fourth largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, Basra and Mosul...
when they had enough money. On August 20, 2002, the couple left Canada and brought their two children, likely through Syria, to a house they had recently purchased in the Iraqi city. Saeed then began applying for networking engineer jobs, putting in an application to join the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Kurdistan field office.
On November 2, 2002, Ibtisam was stopped at a routine checkpoint on her way to Biara
Biara
The biara is a piscivorous fish. It is also a pelagic and freshwater fish. It is found in many South American freshwater rivers, and is known for its long extra-oral teeth....
, where she told police that her husband was friends with Farhat and working as a computer engineer for Ansar al-Islam
Ansar al-Islam
Ansar al-Islam is a Sunni Islamist group of Iraqis, promoting a radical interpretation of Islam, close to the official Saudi ideology of Wahhabism with strict application of Sharia. The group was formed in the northern provinces of Iraq near the Iranian border, and previously had established...
. After the PUK labeled Saeed a "computer expert" who aided the militant group, his wife and two children were placed under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
by police chief Westa Hassan in Sulaymaniya in 2003. Her father then traveled to the mountain stronghold where Saeed was staying, and requested that he offer his daughter a proper divorce, which resulted in a letter being sent back stating "I have divorced you, and am marrying the jihad".
Their younger brother, Abdulla, said the family was "shocked and saddened" and that he didn't believe it was possible as his brother was a "cultural person".
Masoud's Canadian driver's license
Driver's license
A driver's license/licence , or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway. Most U.S...
SIN card and his Mountain Equipment Co-op
Mountain Equipment Co-op
Mountain Equipment Co-op is a Canadian consumers' cooperative, which sells outdoor recreation gear and clothing to its members exclusively. MEC is notable for its commitment to environmental protection and other causes. As a co-op, MEC sells only to customers who hold a lifetime membership, which...
membership card were found by American troops following an attack on an Ansar stronghold.
On March 7 2005, Saeed and Hassan Farhat
Hassan Farhat
Born in Telafa, Iraq, Hassan Farhat was the founder and Imam of Salaheddin Mosque in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada....
were named by CSIS Director Jim Judd
Jim Judd
James "Jim" Judd is a retired Canadian diplomat and senior civil servant. He served as the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service . He was appointed to the position by Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin on November 29, 2004 and retired from the position on June 27, 2009, before the...
in remarks to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
, that Farhat "is believed to be a key commander and ideologue with" Ansar al-Islam
Ansar al-Islam
Ansar al-Islam is a Sunni Islamist group of Iraqis, promoting a radical interpretation of Islam, close to the official Saudi ideology of Wahhabism with strict application of Sharia. The group was formed in the northern provinces of Iraq near the Iranian border, and previously had established...
and that Saeed was "believed to be a member".