by Laura Czekaj , Sun Media
Source: The Ottawa Sun
URL: [link]
Date: November 7, 2008


The wife of an alleged terrorist broke down in tears on the stand yesterday as she told a Federal Court how release conditions imposed on her husband have changed their lives.

Sophie Harkat spoke of how her life was turned upside down when her husband, Mohamed Harkat, was arrested in 2002 because of federal government suspicions that he had links to al-Qaida.

Since his release from prison in 2006, the couple has lived with strict conditions that require Sophie to shadow her husband's every move when Canada Border Services Agency grants him permission to leave his home.

Sophie is among a handful of sureties who must monitor Harkat to ensure he doesn't breach his conditions.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Andrew Duffy Source: The Ottawa Citizen URL: N/A Date: November 07, 2008 Sophie Harkat 'devastated,' court hears

Sophie Harkat says federal agents who monitor her husband's bail follow so close behind the couple that they're sometimes in the same line to order shawarmas. Ms. Harkat told Federal Court yesterday that she was ready to "explode" because agents from the Canada Border Services Agency had been so overzealous. Two agents sat behind them during a National Arts Centre performance and on three occasions were in the same movie theatre. [ PHOTO: Sophie and Mohamed Harkat sit in front of their former residence. Ms. Harkat pleaded with Judge Simon Noël to get Canada Border Services Agency agents to 'back off.' Wayne Cuddington, The Ottawa Citizen ] "It has been two years of non-stop CBSA in my face," she testified, adding: "I don't know who I need to explode to." She pleaded with Judge Simon Noël to order the agents to "back off."

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Andrew Duffy Source: The Ottawa Citizen URL: [link] Date: November 06, 2008 Accused terrorist tells judge strict bail terms impose undue 'pressure' on his family

Accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat says he can be trusted not to violate any bail conditions because he's scared of being deported to Algeria. Mr. Harkat has asked Federal Court Justice Simon Noël to liberalize his strict bail terms and permit him to remain home alone. He told court yesterday that he knows any misstep would disappoint his family and supporters, put him back in jail and increase the likelihood of his deportation. "My life is on the line," Mr. Harkat testified. "If I am deported to Algeria, it's a nightmare: I look at it like an execution." The federal government has issued a security certificate against Mr. Harkat that declares him an al-Qaeda member and a danger to national security.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Andrew Duffy, Canwest News Service
Source: The Ottawa Citizen
URL: [link]
Date: November 06, 2008


OTTAWA - The wife of accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat says federal agents who monitor her husband's bail follow the couple so closely, they're sometimes in the same line to order shawarmas.

Sophie Harkat told Federal Court Thursday that she was ready to "explode" because agents from the Canada Border Services Agency had been overzealous.

Two agents sat behind them during a theatre performance and on three occasions were in the same movie theatre, once for a screening of Good Cop, Bad Cop.

"It has been two years of non-stop CBSA in my face," she testified, adding: "I don't know who I need to explode to."

She pleaded with Judge Simon Noel to order the agents to "back off."

Earlier this week, the judge commended the border agency for its work in ensuring that the court's bail order was respected.

Sophie Harkat spent more than three hours on the witness stand Thursday, describing some of the "humiliations" she had suffered because of the unusual conditions.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Laura Czekaj, Sun Media Source: The Ottawa Sun URL: N/A Date: November 5, 2008 Accused used fake passport, 'lied' about his past, court told

Canada's federal spy agency says Mohamed Harkat has ties to al-Qaida and met with key members of the Osama bin Laden network. That was some of the rare insight offered yesterday by a CSIS agent who testified in Federal Court that Harkat's alleged interactions with Islamic terrorists gave authorities reason to believe he was a terrorist sleeper agent. A federal agent -- identified as John -- testified CSIS was suspicious of Harkat from the time he arrived in Canada in 1995 when he was found in possession of a fake Saudi Arabian passport and "lied" about his past. In his refugee claim, Harkat confirmed he supported the Algerian-based Front Islamique du Salut (FIS) and offered his family home for the group's use as an office. With the Algerian government searching for Harkat, he fled to Pakistan where he said he worked for a Muslim charitable organization until 1994. Harkat arrived at the Toronto airport using the phony Saudi Arabian passport which was considered to be the documentat of "choice" for al-Qaida, the federal agent said.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Andrew Duffy (for Canwest News Service) Source: The Calgary Herald URL: [link] Date: November 05, 2008 Terror suspect in contact with bin Laden aide, 'John' says

A senior Canadian spy says Mohamed Harkat operated as an al-Qaeda sleeper agent in Ottawa and remained in contact with Osama bin Laden's main banker. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service official, identified only as John, told a Federal Court hearing yesterday that Mr. Harkat's behaviour was consistent with an al-Qaeda sleeper: He kept a low profile, denied his known use of aliases and lied about his connections to Islamic extremists. "Mr. Harkat showed the characteristics of being a sleeper agent after arriving in Canada," John testified. John, a section chief in the Middle East branch of the spy agency, has spent 10 years investigating and analysing Islamic terrorism. He is the first CSIS agent to testify against Mr. Harkat in open court. Mr. Harkat, 40, an Ottawa pizza delivery man, was arrested in December 2002 on the strength of a security certificate, seven years after his arrival in Canada. Federal Court Justice Simon Noël must now decide whether the government made a reasonable decision in labelling him a terrorist. CSIS alleges that Mr. Harkat served as a soldier in Afghan-istan during the early 1990s and has links to terrorist groups associated with the bin Laden network, including the Algerian GIA and the Egyptian Islamic Group. John also testified that the spy agency recorded a phone conversation between Mr. Harkat and a man named Haji Wazir. In that conversation, Mr. Harkat described himself as a Canadian Muslim and inquired about Chechen mujahedeen leader Ibn Khattab and other "brothers." John told court that CSIS believes Haji Wazir was, in fact, Pacha Wazir, a financial kingpin from the United Arab Emirates upon whom Mr. bin Laden relied to move money around the world.

[ Read the rest ... ]

Stephen Harper,
Prime Minister of Canada

Mailing Address:

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
Canada
K1A 0A2

Email: [email]
Phone: (613) 992-4211
Fax Number: (613) 941-6900

---------------------

The Honourable Jason Kenney
Citizenship, Immigration & Multiculturalism
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
(no postage required)

Telephone: (613) 992-2235
Fax: (613) 992-1920
E-Mail: [email]

-----------------------

The Honourable Vic Toews,

Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A6
(no postage required)

Telephone: (613) 996-7752
Fax: (613) 992-8351
E-Mail: [email]

Source: The Canadian Press
URL: [link]
Date: November 4, 2008


OTTAWA — Mohamed Harkat has shown telltale signs of being a terrorist "sleeper" agent ever since he came to Canada 13 years ago, says the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

A CSIS officer, identified only as "John" to protect his identity, told Federal Court on Tuesday that Harkat has offered contradictory stories about his background over the years.

But the spy agency's bottom line, said the officer, is that "we think he is a supporter of the (Osama) bin Laden network and he therefore represents a threat to the security of Canada."

One of the things that sparked the suspicion of CSIS was that Harkat, an Algerian native who came to Canada from Pakistan in 1995, arrived carrying a phoney Saudi Arabian passport.

He has said he was fleeing political persecution in Algeria and the fake travel document was the only way he could get to Canada to make a refugee claim.

But the CSIS agent said the security service, based on its analysis of al-Qaida's operating methods, considered Saudi documents "the passport of choice" for members of the bin Laden network.


[ Read the rest ... ]

by Jim Brown (CP)
Source: The Toronto Star
URL: [link]
Date: November 4, 2008


[PHOTO: TOM HANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO
Bail conditions limit former pizza delivery man Mohamed Harkat to three supervised outings a week and occasional walks with his wife. ]

OTTAWA–It's getting harder to keep tabs on accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat and make sure he's living up to his bail conditions as his case drags on, says the man in charge of shadowing him.

Peter Foley, enforcement chief for the Canada Border Services Agency, told Federal Court yesterday the frustration over surveillance is mounting – for Harkat and his wife Sophie as well as the border agency.

"The relationship is becoming more confrontational," said Foley. "They don't hide their displeasure at our encroachment."

The comments came as the federal government launched its latest effort to kick Algerian-born Harkat out of Canada as a suspected Al Qaeda agent. The former pizza delivery man denies any terrorist ties.

He was arrested in 2003 based on evidence – most of it still secret – gathered by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. He was released from custody in 2005.

Harkat is confined to his home most of the time, with three supervised outings a week and occasional walks around the neighbourhood with his wife. He must wear a GPS ankle bracelet, his mail is intercepted, his phone tapped, his contact with the media restricted. Any visitors must be pre-approved.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Andrew Duffy
Source: The Ottawa Citizen
URL: [link]
Date: November 04, 2008

OTTAWA - A senior Canadian spy says Mohamed Harkat operated as an al-Qaida sleeper agent in Ottawa - and kept in contact with Osama bin Laden's main banker.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service official, identified only as John, told a Federal Court hearing Tuesday that Harkat's behaviour was consistent with an al-Qaida sleeper: He kept a low profile, denied his known use of aliases and lied about his connections to Islamic extremists.

"Mr. Harkat showed the characteristics of being a sleeper agent after arriving in Canada," John testified.

[ PHOTO: Mohamed Harkat was arrested in December 2002 seven years after his arrival in Canada. Chris Wattie/Reuters ]

John, a section chief in the Middle East branch of the spy agency, has spent 10 years investigating and analyzing Islamic terrorism.

He is the first CSIS agent to testify against Harkat in open court.

Harkat, 40, an Ottawa pizza delivery man, was arrested in December 2002 on the strength of a security certificate seven years after his arrival in Canada.

Federal Court Justice Simon Noel must now decide whether the government made a reasonable decision when it labelled Harkat a terrorist.

CSIS alleges that Harkat served as a soldier in Afghanistan during the early 1990s and has links to terrorist groups associated with the bin Laden network, including the Algerian GIA and the Egyptian Islamic Group.

John also testified that the spy agency recorded a phone conversation between Harkat and a man named Haji Wazir.

[ Read the rest ... ]