GUANTANAMO Bay, CUBA–An Algerian detained here amid legal uncertainty could find a home in Canada, where he has the backing of religious, human rights and refugee groups in Montreal.

Djamel Ameziane is one of more than 50 detainees looking for refuge, because the U.S. will not try him before a military commission and cannot send him to Algeria, where he could face persecution.

Supporters of the 41-year-old Algerian are expected to announce in Montreal today that they have submitted a private sponsorship application asking the Canadian government to accept him as a refugee "in urgent need of protection."

"Mr. Ameziane is a survivor of brutal mistreatment, torture and arbitrary detention by the U.S. and is at risk of more of the same – or worse – in Algeria," said Andrew Brouwer, Ameziane's Toronto lawyer. "This application to be resettled to Canada is his only hope."

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