A federal watchdog, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), found that CSIS failed to adequately brief the public safety minister and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about a clandestine overseas operation. This operation is linked to allegations that a CSIS asset, Mohammed al-Rashed, smuggled three British teenage girls (Shamima Begum, Amira Abase, Kadiza Sultana) into Syria to join ISIS in 2015. The report highlights "problematic and potentially unlawful" CSIS activities and calls for strengthened ministerial accountability.
Minister lacked details about CSIS operation linked to asset who reportedly smuggled teens
CSIS operationISISNSIRA reportHuman smugglingCanadaOttawaCanadian Security Intelligence ServicePublic Safety CanadaAmira AbaseKadiza SultanaMarco MendicinoMohammed al-RashedShamima BegumArrestsSmugglingNational securityMedia
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A federal watchdog, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), found that CSIS failed to adequately brief the public safety minister and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about a clandestine overseas operation. This operation is linked to allegations that a CSIS asset, Mohammed al-Rashed, smuggled three British teenage girls (Shamima Begum, Amira Abase, Kadiza Sultana) into Syria to join ISIS in 2015. The report highlights "problematic and potentially unlawful" CSIS activities and calls for strengthened ministerial accountability.
Trending- 1 February 2015: Three British teenage girls (Shamima Begum, Amira Abase, Kadiza Sultana) went missing, allegedly smuggled into Syria by CSIS asset Mohammed al-Rashed.
- 2 2022: Canada's involvement exposed by U.K.-based investigative journalists; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to look into claims.
- 3 2022: Then Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino asked NSIRA to launch a review.
- 4 Last week (prior to June 3, 2025): NSIRA released a heavily redacted "top secret" report.
- 5 January 2015 to July 2023: Period reviewed by NSIRA.
- 6 This year (2025): Public Safety Department believed the risk rating for the operation was "flawed"; memos about high-risk human sources received.
- 7 Ongoing: CSIS reviewing the report and recommendations.
- Breakdown of ministerial accountability for CSIS operations
- Potential harm to Canada's international reputation
- Two of the smuggled teens are believed dead
- Shamima Begum stripped of UK citizenship and detained
- NSIRA issued recommendations to strengthen oversight
What: A federal watchdog (NSIRA) found that CSIS failed to provide sufficient details to the Public Safety Minister and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding a clandestine overseas operation. This operation is linked to allegations that a CSIS asset (Mohammed al-Rashed) smuggled British teenage girls into Syria to join ISIS.
When: Last week (NSIRA report released); 2022 (Trudeau faced questions, promised to look into claims); February 2015 (British teens went missing); January 2015 to July 2023 (NSIRA review period); this year (memos about high-risk human sources).
Where: Syria, Turkey, England, Canada, Ottawa.
Why: CSIS allegedly failed to adequately inform the minister and prime minister about the risks and details of a sensitive overseas operation involving a human source accused of unlawful activities (human smuggling), leading to a breakdown in ministerial accountability and potential harm to Canada's international reputation.
How: CSIS allegedly used Mohammed al-Rashed as an intelligence asset, who reportedly smuggled the teens. CSIS memos to the minister were found to be incomplete, and the risk assessment flawed, leading to a lack of proper oversight from Public Safety Canada and the Prime Minister's Office. NSIRA conducted a review and issued recommendations.