Mohamed Harkat yesterday denied knowingly having terrorist ties and agreed to a wide range of strict bail conditions that could see him released from jail, where his mental health is said to be deteriorating. "It's like a nightmare for me," he said of the 34 months he has spent in jail since being arrested on suspicion of being an al-Qaeda operative. Mr. Harkat, his wife, and other supporters were in Federal Court yesterday for the first day of a bail hearing for the Ottawa man, who has been under a deportation order to his native Algeria since March. He is seeking release pending the outcome of a constitutional appeal.Supporters pledged to ensure Mr. Harkat abided by numerous possible bail conditions, including a curfew, supervision when outside his home, no Internet or cellphone access, a phone tap, electronic monitoring and not being allowed to speak Arabic. The terms are so strict that even if Mr. Harkat "desired to do anything," he likely could not, his lawyer, Paul Copeland, said outside court.

If released, Mr. Harkat would live with his wife, Sophie, her mother, Pierrette Brunette, and a roommate.

Ms. Harkat started to cry when telling the court how having her husband home would affect her. "My life has already been hell for the past 34 months," she said. "If Mo is granted bail, I will also be granted (bail) myself."

Mr. Harkat was arrested in December 2002, after a security certificate was issued by two federal cabinet ministers who believed him to be a terrorist threat, based on intelligence information.

Yesterday, federal lawyers often cited a March ruling by Judge Eleanor Dawson, who upheld the government's position and said Mr. Harkat lied in Federal Court when he testified he had no connection to al-Qaeda. Her decision relied heavily on secret evidence.

Mr. Harkat reiterated yesterday that he did not support extremists or Osama bin Laden's network. "God does not allow the use of violence against human beings and I don't believe in that either," he said in Arabic, through a translator.

Mr. Harkat recalled crying at night during his first year of detention, and said he is often unable to sleep. He said he dreams of being tortured in Algeria, and acknowledged the consequences if he were to break the bail conditions.

Federal lawyer James Mathieson suggested Mr. Harkat would say anything to get out of prison.

Mr. Harkat's constitutional appeal is likely headed to the Supreme Court of Canada, and more than 60 prominent Canadians have filed affidavits offering cash bonds in support of his bail application. The hearing continues today.

© The Ottawa Citizen 2005