Hayat’s family and new legal team said in a statement that the case is “a stark example of how, in the post 9/11 era, the government’s effort to protect the public from terrorism could and did in this case go terribly wrong.”

“Unfortunately, this is the best strategy we have right now for dealing with extremism online,” an expert says.

In a briefing for deputy ministers responsible for national security, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the RCMP openly asked whether, given the nature of the threat, the government of Canada was "able to effectively respond?"

Recent months have seen a surge in attacks that threaten to destabilize the region. So why is it happening?

The videos were found during a covert search of Patrik Jordan Mathews' Delaware hideout, according to U.S. prosecutors.

Baba, 32, was captured in 2017 in Mali, where he remains in custody and is being prosecuted. Mali has no extradition treaty with the United States.

Diab, his wife and two young children have filed a notice of action in Ontario Superior Court seeking tens of millions of dollars for alleged abuse of process, infliction of emotional distress and other claims.

The designations freeze any U.S.-related assets of the group and the two leaders, generally prohibit Americans from doing business with them and makes it a crime to provide support or resources to Asaib Ahl al-Haq.

Cabinet members and top aides from across the government recommended against the policy weeks before Trump's declaration last month that the U.S. would designate Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

El Bahnasawy pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in District Court for the Southern District of New York later in 2016.