TORONTO, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen
Harper will make it a criminal offence for Canadians to travel
to areas controlled by groups designated as terrorist entities,
such as Islamic State, if he is re-elected, he said on Sunday.
Citing a need to stop a flow of fighters to and from Canada,
Harper said his Conservative government would create a new
category of banned foreign travel zones known as "declared
areas".
These would include regions within foreign countries where
entities such as Islamic State are engaged in hostile activities
and recruiting and training followers.
"Eventually, some will try to return home, bringing with
them whatever terrorist training they received to become a
direct threat to the security of this country," Harper said at
an appearance in Ottawa.
Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has declared a
caliphate to rule over all Muslims from territory it controls in
Syria and Iraq. Canada is part of a U.S.-led coalition
conducting air strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria and
Iraq since last year.
Harper said exceptions to the new law would be made for aid
workers, diplomats and journalists.
Most recent polls have shown the ruling Conservatives
slightly trailing the official opposition New Democrats ahead of
the Oct. 19 election.
The Conservatives have taken a tough line on security
following the killings of two soldiers by Muslim converts in
separate attacks in Canada last October.
The party has already passed legislation that gives police
and security agencies more power to stop people going abroad to
link up with Islamic State and similar movements.