Original author: Holly Lake Source: The Ottawa Sun URL: [link] Date: October 25, 2005 The wife of terror suspect Mohamed Harkat made an emotional plea for his release yesterday. At a Federal Court hearing where her husband is seeking bail pending the outcome of his Supreme Court appeal, Sophie Harkat broke down when asked how his 35-month detention has impacted her life. [ PHOTO - Sophie Harkat leaves the Supreme Court building yesterday after her husband's appeal hearing, which continues today. (Jason Ransom, SUN) ] "If Mo is granted bail, I will be granted (bail) as well," she said. "My life has been turned upside down. The Federal Court needs to give us a break here and trust us with this."Harkat was arrested on Dec. 10, 2002 and has been held in jail without charge at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre ever since. In March, a Federal Court judge upheld the security certificate on which he has been held, paving the way for deportation to his native Algeria. Based extensively on confidential information and alleged evidence not released to Harkat or his lawyers, the judge said he lied under oath about knowingly supporting Islamic extremists, associating with accused terrorists and being in Afghanistan. Harkat responded to that yesterday: "I never did support Islamic extremists and will not support Islamic extremists," he said. "It's not right to use violence against human beings." His lawyers are suggesting release conditions include house arrest, electronic monitoring, and no access to telecommunications, including computers. While he should be permitted to use a landline, Harkat would be prohibited from conversing in Arabic. Sophie Harkat was firm when repeatedly asked if she understood the conditions. 'I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE'

"Absolutely," she said. "We're willing to agree to all of those. I can't see why Mo (can't) be able to be at home with us." She laughed when asked if she would have a problem with CSIS tapping her home's telephone line. "I think it's already being monitored. I don't have a problem with that (being a condition). I have nothing to hide." Sophie's mother, Pierrette Brunette, was among the sureties who took the stand yesterday. She's willing to post a 50,000 dollar bond for her son-in-law and is one of many who've committed tens of thousands of dollars to the effort. Sporting closely cropped hair and clad in a grey sweater and white-collared shirt, Harkat also pledged to live by the conditions if the court decides to release him. Of breaking bail, he said: "It's a good excuse to deport me." Harkat has been diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress, and described life in jail as "horrible." "I'm scared," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen for me. It's just going on and on and on." The hearing continues today. holly dot lake at ott dot sunpub dot com Copyright © 2005, Canoe Inc. All rights reserved.