In 2006, Zakaria Amara was arrested and imprisoned for planning what could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks in Canadian history. A ringleader of the so-called “Toronto 18,” he’s one of the most infamous Canadian convicts of the last few decades. 

But this won’t be an episode about the Toronto 18 terror plot. This is about what happened to one of the ringleaders after that plot was foiled. About his many years of incarceration. About the possibility of rehabilitation. And what role, if any, imprisonment and prison labour played in that.

Featured in this episode: Zakaria Amara

CORRECTION: We stated in this episode that this was Zakaria Amara’s first interview with a member of the press. But it was in fact his first broadcast interview since his release. We regret the error.

To learn more:

The Boy and His Sandcastle: A Journey of Redemption by Zakaria Amara

“The Toronto 18 case still skews our views on ‘radicalization’ and terrorism” by Adnan Khan in The Globe and Mail

“Bomb plot ringleader: ‘I will change…’” by Michael Friscolanti in Maclean’s

“Books behind bars” by Leslie Sinclair in This Magazine

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Article