Harkat et Jaballah et Mahjoub
posted on March 24, 2005 | in Category Security Certificates | PermaLinkSource: Coalition Justice pour Adil Charkaoui
Two secret trial decisions came out yesterday, on the eve of Martin meeting with Bush in the US: one on Mohamed Harkat's case, and the second in Mahmoud Jaballah's case (links to both decisions are included below).
Judge Dawson upheld the certificate for Harkat after several months of deliberating on secret information, without ever having heard Harkat's side in a fair trial, in a process which undermines the principles of the legal profession. While her decision is unquestionably a victory for injustice and racism, it does NOT mean that Harkat is in imminent danger of deportation. Harkat can now apply for protection from Canada, given the fact that, as a convention refugee, he faces serious risks if he is deported. He can also apply for release on bail.
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Ottawa man one step closer to expulsion
posted on March 24, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLinkA federal court justice has upheld a national security certificate against an Ottawa gas station attendant, bringing Mohamed Harkat one step closer to being deported to Algeria.
The 36-year-old has been held since Dec. 10, 2002, on allegations that he is a sleeper agent for Al Qaeda. Canada's spy service claims Harkat, while supposedly working at a Muslim charity in Pakistan in the early 1990s, operated a guesthouse for jihadis travelling to Chechnya.
He is also accused of travelling to Afghanistan and associating with Abu Zubaydah, who was third on the U.S. list of most-wanted Al Qaeda suspects, behind leader Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri.
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Harkat Federal Court decision "unjust" , Supporters vow to continue fight
posted on March 23, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLinkFor immediate release March 22, 2005 Harkat Federal Court decision "unjust" Supporters vow to continue fight
Event #1:
News Conference
Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Time: 4:30 p.m
Place: PSAC Building, 233 Gilmour St., 0ttawa
Event #2:
Rally
Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Time: 5 p.m.
Place: Human Rights Monument in Ottawa (Elgin and Lisgar)
The Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee will hold a press conference to respond to the Federal Court decision to uphold the Security Certificate. Family and supporters will gather at the Human Rights Monument in support of Mohamed Harkat and to denounce the Government of Canada's oppressive use of Security Certificates and disregard of human rights.
For more information contact
English: Kevin Skerrett, Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee:
(613) 864-1590
French: Christian Legeais, Comite Justice pour Mohamed Harkat:
(613) 276-9102
[link]
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Harkat security certificate upheld by court
posted on March 23, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLinkCBC News Ottawa
URL: [link]
Date: March 22, 2005
OTTAWA - A federal court judge has upheld the use of a security certificate against Ottawa's Mohamed Harkat, who has been held in jail for more than two years.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service says the Algerian-born man is a member of Al-Qaeda who trained in Afghanistan, then entered Canada as a sleeper agent.
On Tuesday, Madam Justice Eleanor Dawson ruled that the grounds for that certificate are reasonable, opening the way to Harkat's deportation.
She also rejected Harkat's constitutional argument that security certificates â?” which allow non-citizens to be detained on suspicion of being terrorists â?” violate fundamental justice.
The judge had agreed during the hearing not to rely on evidence against Harkat from some witnesses who may have been tortured or may have given false evidence, including Maher Arar and the so-called millennium bomber, Ahmed Ressam.
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Harkat loses bid to quash security certificate, faces deportation
posted on March 23, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLinkSource: CANOE.CA CNEWS
URL: [link]
Date: March 22, 2005
OTTAWA (CP) - A long-awaited court ruling could clear the way for deportation of Mohamed Harkat, an Ottawa man jailed for more than two years as a national security threat.
On Tuesday, a Federal Court judge upheld a security certificate issued against Harkat, potentially setting the stage for the refugee's return to his native Algeria. The decision, which cannot be appealed, effectively becomes a removal order.
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Update: Justice Dawson decides AGAINST Mohamed Harkat
posted on March 23, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink[ Read the rest ... ]
Harkat judge set to re-examine witnesses in secret
posted on March 22, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLinkMeasure indicates jurist taking terrorist hearing 'very seriously:' lawyer
A federal court judge will sit in a closed courtroom today to again hear secret testimony in the case of accused Ottawa terrorist Mohamed Harkat. It is the second time since the end of the public hearing in December that Judge Eleanor Dawson has recalled federal government witnesses to ask more questions of them. Mr. Harkat and his lawyer, Paul Copeland, have not been told who the witnesses are or what questions are being put to them.
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[REPORT-BACK] Beginning of the End for Secret Trial Security Certificates in Canada
posted on March 10, 2005 | in Category Security Certificates | PermaLinkOTTAWA, March 8, 2005 - "Did you get our dad out yet?" one of the young children of the secret trial detainees asked us today as we returned to an Ottawa daycare space following two days of intensive lobbying on Parliament Hill.
While we did not have the answer he needed to hear, the longer-term response was that we are making steps in the right direction. At the end of the lobby period, during which friends and family of Canada's Secret Trial Five met with almost 20 MPs and Senators, it was clear that secret trials are an issue being discussed both in various party caucuses and in Cabinet.
Indeed, much to the chagrin of CSIS and their biggest booster, Anne McLellan, the issue has been forced into the wider sphere of the reviews of the anti-terror legislation. Last week, there was an all-party consent to include the security certificates in the House subcommittee's review of C-36, and excellent, persistent questioning of witnesses before the Senate committee by folks like Senators Lynch-Staunton and Mobina Jaffer, among many others).
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CSIS chief links immigrant to Al Qaeda
posted on March 09, 2005 | in Category CSIS | PermaLinkOTTAWA - A Canadian landed immigrant is a key commander affiliated with Al Qaeda in Iraq, a top CSIS official says.
CSIS director Jim Judd told a Senate committee yesterday "the ranks of trained terrorist fighters in Iraq are bolstered by individuals from around the world, including from Europe and Canada."
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Alexa calls on the government to halt use of security certificates
posted on March 09, 2005 | in Category Security Certificates | PermaLinkAlexa McDonough held a press conference with families of four men currently held on security certificates, calling on the government to charge these men if evidence exists that they've committed a crime or release them immediately!
Ms. McDonough tabled a detailed motion that also called on the government to abide by the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Canada is signatory, and delivered a statement in the House.
Read on..
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