IF RELEASED, Mohamed Harkat will be a threat to national security, a CSIS official said yesterday. Testifying at Harkat's bail hearing, a senior Middle East analyst with CSIS, identified only as "P.G." made the assertion in response to the Crown's questioning. James Mathison asked P.G. if the time Harkat has spent in custody is enough to lessen or erase Islamic fundamental ideological beliefs. "It is our belief the length of time is not relevant ... that incarceration does not act as a deterrent, as a neutralizing factor," P.G. answered, noting acts of violence are used to achieve political goals of such fundamentalists.His response to the Crown on Harkat's status was stated simply: "It is our belief Mohamed Harkat would be a threat to Canada."

Harkat, who authorities suspect is an al-Qaida sleeper agent, has been in custody at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre since his Dec. 10, 2002, arrest, despite never having been charged with a crime.

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. That decision was based extensively on confidential information and alleged evidence that has never been released to Harkat or his lawyers.

He's appealing to the Supreme Court and is currently seeking bail pending the outcome of that appeal.

Yesterday, Harkat sat slumped during P.G.'s testimony, during which he detailed categories that al-Qaida operatives fall under: High-ranking officials, such as Osama bin Laden; al-Qaida affiliate groups and networks; and individuals or groups with no formal links to al-Qaida, but have a shared ideology.

Violent acts to achieve political gains would be the "heart and soul" of such extremists, P.G. said.

In an attempt to discredit P.G, the defence questioned his expertise, citing lack of formal university training in the area of Islamic fundamentalism some 20 years ago. Prior to starting at CSIS in 2001, P.G. served as a multi-lingual analyst at CSE. Defence lawyer Paul Copeland wondered what relevance that had to qualify P.G. as an expert.

The defence has sought disclosure of some dozen articles provided by P.G. to the Crown and judge.

The hearing resumes today and the judge will render a decision on what information from the articles can be shared with the defence, who will then continue cross-examination of P.G.

nelly dot elayoubi at ott dot sunpub dot com

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