Supporters of five Muslim men jailed without charge will be in Ottawa today to protest a system that makes accused terrorists prove their innocence. Montrealer Adil Charkaoui, who has been held for 17 months on suspicion of being an al-Qaida sleeper-cell agent, has launched a constitutional challenge of security certificates.

With Charkaoui's Federal Court of Appeal hearing scheduled to begin this morning, his supporters will gather outside the Sparks St. court at noon.

They argue racism and fear are driving an attack on immigrants and every Canadian's civil liberties.

SYSTEM NOT 'FAIR'

Sophie Harkat, whose husband Mohamed is accused of being an al-Qaida sleeper agent, will also be there to demand that security certificates be abolished.

"I don't think it's fair for anyone -- Canadian, a refugee, an immigrant -- to have to prove their innocence in a court where the evidence is secret," the Ottawa woman said. "If you were in their shoes, would you accept that process? If not, come and support this. That's the only way these men are going to get a fair trial."

Mohamed Harkat, an Algerian refugee, was arrested nearly two years ago under a rarely used section of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

CSIS says Harkat was labelled an al-Qaida agent by one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants. They allege Harkat ran a guest house for mujahedeen fighters in Pakistan in the 1990s.

Harkat is waiting for his hearing to resume Dec. 6, but most of the evidence against him is still secret -- even from his lawyers -- for "national security" reasons.

If Harkat loses his hearing, he'll be deported.

Sophie Harkat believes Charkaoui's case is crucial to the fate of her husband and the other men.

Two of the five jailed Muslim men are facing their last chance to stay in Canada, she said. All face deportation, and the risk of torture, despite not being charged with a crime, she said.

One man has launched a hunger strike to protest what he says is mistreatment in a Toronto jail, she said.

Sophie Harkat can only visit her husband twice a week for 20 minutes and only through a pane of glass. He doesn't always know supporters are fighting for him.

But she said she's hopeful now that her husband has testified in his own defence.

"The tide may be turning," she said.