B’nai Brith Canada is raising concerns about the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, a Vancouver-based non-profit that remains operational despite being designated as a terrorist organization last fall. The group was co-founded by Khaled Barakat, a prominent member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and his wife, Charlotte Kates, who resides in Vancouver.

The Canadian government’s decision to classify Samidoun as a terrorist entity in October was welcomed by many Jewish organizations. However, since that designation, the group has continued its activities without significant repercussions. Kates has been a controversial figure, previously arrested for leading a protest in April 2024 where she referred to the perpetrators of a deadly attack on Israelis as "heroic and brave." During the protest, she led chants of "Long live October 7."

Despite video evidence of her remarks and a recommendation from the Vancouver Police Department to pursue charges, the B.C. Prosecution Service has not moved forward with prosecution. This inaction has prompted B.C. MLA Dallas Brodie, leader of the OneBC party, to file a private prosecution against Kates in a Vancouver courthouse. Legal experts suggest that this move is unlikely to result in Kates facing charges, but it has drawn media attention and may increase pressure on prosecutors.

Kates has continued to travel freely, making headlines for her statements against Israel. In May 2024, she traveled to Iran to accept a "human rights award" and praised the October 7 attack on Iranian television. She also attended the funeral of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon and recently appeared on a South African talk show, criticizing Western leaders' pledges to recognize a Palestinian state.

In her interviews, Kates has expressed opposition to a demilitarized Palestinian state, arguing that it would limit the Palestinians' ability to resist what she describes as Israeli occupation. She has labeled Israel a "criminal entity" and has called for the decriminalization of terrorist organizations, advocating for increased support for Palestinian resistance.

Kates has made statements suggesting that the elimination of Zionism is essential for peace in the region. On August 6, she urged her followers on social media to mobilize and escalate actions against what she termed "Zionist-imperialist genocides." While she has not explicitly called for violence, her rhetoric has raised alarms among various groups concerned about the implications of her statements.