Original author: Jim Bronskill
Source: CANOE CNEWS Network
URL: [link]
Date: October 24, 2005

OTTAWA (CP) - A lawyer for accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat slammed the government Monday for trying to uncover how much bail money supporters of his client had raised from Muslims.

Harkat, an alleged al-Qaida sleeper agent, is seeking release from the Ottawa detention centre in which he has spent the last 34 months. His backers have marshalled 35,000 dollars in cash and tens of thousands more dollars in assurances in an attempt to persuade the Federal Court of Canada to grant him bail.

Harkat's counsel told Justice Francois Lemieux that the Ottawa man, arrested in December 2002, would agree to strict release conditions that effectively amount to house arrest.

Harkat's wife, Sophie, broke down in tears when asked what her husband's freedom from jail would mean.

"My life has been turned upside-down and I'm willing to do anything so my husband can be home," she told the court.

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