Congratulations to the Star, and particularly Michelle Shephard, for the excellent story and online video about Hassan Almrei. The recent history of indefinite detention practices, in Canada and abroad, is a history of secrecy, coercion and, above all, dehumanization. It is vitally important to our debates about these practices to recognize that "detainees" are human beings with their own lives, stories and voices, and articles like this help us to do that. To those who continue to support security certificates, I ask: Could you honestly look Mr. Almrei in the eyes and say, "I believe that we have been justified in imprisoning you for seven years without charge or trial"? It is easier to champion such cold-blooded policies when their targets are mere abstractions, rather than human beings. Mike Larsen Researcher, York Centre for International and Security Studies © Copyright Toronto Star 1996-2009