Terrorism Ruling a First for Canada 'Incel' Attack

Facts

• On Tuesday, Ontario Superior Court Justice Suhail Akhtar ruled that a 2020 attack on a Toronto massage parlor was an act of terrorism inspired by the online "incel" movement, marking the first officially-designated terror offense of this type.¹
• The term "incel" is short for "involuntary celibate" and has been described as a motive for violent extremism. The term is often found in online cultures that espouse misogynistic beliefs.²
• While the incel motive ruling doesn't carry a distinct charge, it will play a role in the upcoming sentencing. The anonymous man, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has pled guilty to two counts of murder and attempted murder.³
• On Feb. 24, 2020, the then-17-year-old suspect entered the Crown Spa massage parlor in North York, Toronto, carrying a 17-inch sword — killing employee Ashley Arzaga by stabbing her 42 times. He also attacked another employee, who survived, before police found him and a note reading "Long Live the Incel Rebellion."⁴
• Canada's Criminal Code defines a terrorist activity as an act committed with the intention of public intimidation "in whole or in part" for a political, religious, or ideological purpose, objective, or cause.⁵
• The ruling is also only the second time an offender has been convicted under Section 231 of Canada's Criminal Code, deeming murder to be first-degree if committed during terrorist activity. The accused is next set to appear in court on July 18, with Crown prosecution seeking for the now 20-year-old to be tried as an adult.⁶

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²Toronto, ³CBC, ⁴The Star, ⁵St Catharines Standard, and ⁶Iheartradio.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Foreign Policy. Unfortunately, Canada is extremely familiar with the rise of incel altercations and is even home to the origin of the term. While it's hard to group incels as a single homogenous unit, national security agencies are finally waking up to the threat. Incels are all too aware that they bear the hallmarks of a terrorist group, and Canada is acting to stifle their continued growth.
• Narrative B, as provided by The Conversation. While some may argue that the newfound categorization of incel terrorism is positive, the decision sets a dangerous precedent for how the state can define "good" and "bad" ideologies in modern society. Incel-related violence is despicable, but the state should reflect on the societal reasons for gender-based violence and attempt to address such issues within the community, rather than creating a problematic "anti-terrorism response."