Original author: Lisa Lisle
Source: The Ottawa Sun Online
URL: [link]
Date: July 31, 2004
Wife's lonely vigil is her obsession
Passing through the gates at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre for one of her cherished 20-minute visits with her husband, Sophie Harkat thinks about his 36th birthday next week. But instead of making plans for a party or a simple family gathering, Sophie Harkat sees it as yet another special occasion stolen from them by the Canadian government, which has accused her husband of having ties to terrorism.
"I thought my second wedding anniversary was bad," she said of the month following Mohamed's arrest.
"It's sad to say, but you kind of get used to it."
And as time drags on, Sophie is left wondering when they'll be able to celebrate again.
Next Friday, Mohamed's birthday will be like every other twice-weekly visit -- 20 minutes and no gifts from home.
"As soon as it's finished, that's it," she said of the strict visitation rules.
But the one-time government worker's life has changed in so many other ways since her husband's arrest.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Mohamed Harkat
Wife's lonely vigil is her obsession
posted on August 04, 2004 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLinkIn troubled homeland, 'it's over' for Harkat
posted on August 04, 2004 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Derek Puddicombe
Source: TheOttawa Sun Online
URL: [link]
Date: July 31, 2004
Mohamed Harkat says deportation to Algeria would be a death sentence. "If they send me back to Algeria, it's really a dangerous situation," he told the Sun. "In Algeria, it's over."
After making his way to Canada with dreams of a better life, Harkat was arrested in 2002 under a rarely used section of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act -- the first step in the deportation process.
Now, the 35-year-old is afraid that he'll be forced to return to Algeria, a country that has a long history of violence. Where, over the years, thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Source: TheOttawa Sun Online
URL: [link]
Date: July 31, 2004
Mohamed Harkat says deportation to Algeria would be a death sentence. "If they send me back to Algeria, it's really a dangerous situation," he told the Sun. "In Algeria, it's over."
After making his way to Canada with dreams of a better life, Harkat was arrested in 2002 under a rarely used section of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act -- the first step in the deportation process.
Now, the 35-year-old is afraid that he'll be forced to return to Algeria, a country that has a long history of violence. Where, over the years, thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Ottawa jail in lockdown
posted on July 20, 2004 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Nelly Elayoubi
Source: The Ottawa Sun
Date: July 18, 2004
Detention centre inmates confined to cells since Thursday in contraband search
INMATES at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre were being searched one-by-one yesterday during an internal investigation which has had the facility in lockdown since Thursday. The lockdown started at about 6 p.m. after a specific incident with one inmate, said Ministry of Public Safety and Security spokesman Bruce O'Neill.
[ Read the rest ... ]
INMATES at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre were being searched one-by-one yesterday during an internal investigation which has had the facility in lockdown since Thursday. The lockdown started at about 6 p.m. after a specific incident with one inmate, said Ministry of Public Safety and Security spokesman Bruce O'Neill.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Lawyer Bruce Engel no longer representing Harkat
posted on May 17, 2004 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
More news:
Read more HERE. Thank you, Bruce, for your dedication and hard work. The struggle continues...
Read more HERE. Thank you, Bruce, for your dedication and hard work. The struggle continues...
Jailed Harkat writes to wife of reunion (Ottawa Sun)
posted on December 20, 2003 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Lisa Lisle
Source: The Ottawa Sun
Date: December 8, 2003
Pen mightier than pen
Jailed Harkat writes to wife of reunion
He was arrested at gunpoint, labelled a terrorist, held in solitary confinement for almost a year and has now lost part of his legal team due to death threats. However, Mohamed Harkat remains optimistic about his case and believes there is a higher purpose for all he and his family have endured in the past year. In very personal letters to his wife and most ardent supporter, Sophie, shared exclusively with the Ottawa Sun, Harkat writes about his love and appreciation for her and makes plans for the future -- a future that he believes involves him living as a free man in Canada.
[ Read the rest ... ]
He was arrested at gunpoint, labelled a terrorist, held in solitary confinement for almost a year and has now lost part of his legal team due to death threats. However, Mohamed Harkat remains optimistic about his case and believes there is a higher purpose for all he and his family have endured in the past year. In very personal letters to his wife and most ardent supporter, Sophie, shared exclusively with the Ottawa Sun, Harkat writes about his love and appreciation for her and makes plans for the future -- a future that he believes involves him living as a free man in Canada.
[ Read the rest ... ]
A message from NDPs Alexa McDonough to Sophie Harkat
posted on December 12, 2003 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Date: December 10, 2003
Dear Ms. Harkat,
I am sorry I cannot be with you this evening as you mark this sad milestone. As you are aware, New Democrats have grave concerns with the federal government's use of Ministerial certificates that violate the rights of citizens in their so-called defence of our democracy.
All Canadian citizens deserve equal treatment enshrined in our Constitution. Yet the federal government has enacted legislation that opens the door to the rights of certain citizens being violated on the basis of race, religion and place of birth. We cannot allow this to happen in the name of 'national security'.
The words of American Congresswoman, Barbara Lee who alone voted against George Bush's war escalation seem more apt and sobering than ever:
"IN THE ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT TERRORISM, LET US NOT BECOME THE ENEMIES WE DEPLORE".
New Democrats will continue to defend the rights of all Canadians.
Sincerely,
Alexa McDonough
MP Halifax NDP
Foreign Affairs Critic, Lead Peace Advocate
Dear Ms. Harkat,
I am sorry I cannot be with you this evening as you mark this sad milestone. As you are aware, New Democrats have grave concerns with the federal government's use of Ministerial certificates that violate the rights of citizens in their so-called defence of our democracy.
All Canadian citizens deserve equal treatment enshrined in our Constitution. Yet the federal government has enacted legislation that opens the door to the rights of certain citizens being violated on the basis of race, religion and place of birth. We cannot allow this to happen in the name of 'national security'.
The words of American Congresswoman, Barbara Lee who alone voted against George Bush's war escalation seem more apt and sobering than ever:
"IN THE ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT TERRORISM, LET US NOT BECOME THE ENEMIES WE DEPLORE".
New Democrats will continue to defend the rights of all Canadians.
Sincerely,
Alexa McDonough
MP Halifax NDP
Foreign Affairs Critic, Lead Peace Advocate
Deux Poèmes de Robert Marois
posted on December 11, 2003 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Auteur: Robert Marois
Date: 10 décembre 2003
Deux Poèmes de Robert Marois
Auteur: Robert Marois
Date: 10 décembre 2003
Ces poèmes n apportent pas de réponse la guerre contre le terrorisme. Ils veulent simplement rappeler tous et toutes qu une telle guerre ne peut se faire sans victimes innocentes et que la propagande haineuse qui l accompagne vise museler l opinion publique en laissant croire que nous sommes entourés de d êtres dangereux qu il faut éliminer par tous les moyens. Poème silencieux
Seulement quelques lignes pour expliquer pourquoi. Parce que durant sa courte existence il n a pas trouvé les mots pour décrire l humiliation. Personne ne l a compris. Cet enfant qui jouait la guerre dans la guerre s amusait-il? Ce n était peut-être que le sourire de la misère? Pouvait-il bénir la terre lorsqu elle lui glissait sous les pieds?
[ Read the rest ... ]
Ces poèmes n apportent pas de réponse la guerre contre le terrorisme. Ils veulent simplement rappeler tous et toutes qu une telle guerre ne peut se faire sans victimes innocentes et que la propagande haineuse qui l accompagne vise museler l opinion publique en laissant croire que nous sommes entourés de d êtres dangereux qu il faut éliminer par tous les moyens. Poème silencieux
Seulement quelques lignes pour expliquer pourquoi. Parce que durant sa courte existence il n a pas trouvé les mots pour décrire l humiliation. Personne ne l a compris. Cet enfant qui jouait la guerre dans la guerre s amusait-il? Ce n était peut-être que le sourire de la misère? Pouvait-il bénir la terre lorsqu elle lui glissait sous les pieds?
[ Read the rest ... ]