An Egyptian resident of British Columbia, Essam Hafez Mohammed Marzouk (عصام حافظ محمد مرزوق) arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1993 as a refugee fleeing persecution in Pakistan. He was one of 14 people subjected to extraordinary rendition by the CIA prior to the 2001 declaration of a war on terror. In 1999, he was convicted as a member of the Vanguards of Conquest, a precursor to al-Jihad. The Egyptian government says that he belongs to the terrorist group al-Jihad. He is currently serving 15 years in an Egyptian prison for supporting terrorism.