Who Is Mohamed Harkat and Why Is He In Jail?

Who is Mohamed Harkat and why is he in jail?

Mohamed Harkat has been in Canada since 1995. In 1997, he was given refugee status after claiming that he faced persecution from the Algerian government if he were to return. Now he faces removal to Algeria where he could be killed.

On December 10th 2002, Mr. Harkat was arrested by undercover police outside his home in Ottawa. Since then, he has been in jail WITHOUT ANY CHARGES under a "Security Certificate" authorized by Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Denis Coderre and Solicitor General Wayne Easter.

Mr. Harkat is being held under the allegation that he is linked to Islamic terrorist groups and activities. Mr. Harkat denies any involvement with any terrorist organizations.

Both Mr. Harkat's wife Sophie and lawyer Bruce Engel believe Mr. Harkat is innocent. Mr. Engel has seen no evidence to support the allegation. Sophie Harkat says, "Mohamed is being mistreated because of all these allegations, and the treatment he has been receiving is unfair and horrible."

Mr. Harkat is being denied his rights as a human being under a racist attack against Arabic communities by the Canadian government.

What is a Security Certificate? A security certificate is an anti-democratic and secretive device used to remove people from Canada. It strips vulnerable people of the right to due process and standard legal rights. A security certificate must be authorized by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Solicitor General. CSIS (Canadian Security and Intelligence Service), Canada's secret police agency, helped create the security certificate in 1990. CSIS puts together information to label people as possible threats and then the information is used to sign a security certificate.

The security certificate can be used against foreign nationals as well as permanent residents. When it is being used against foreign nationals, or people trying to immigrate to Canada, they are automatically detained. The hearing that takes place to determine whether a person poses a threat to the country takes place without the person charged being present. They are denied information on why they were arrested and what their charges are. Even their lawyer is not allowed to know, denying access to fair representation.

Mohamed Harkat is in this unjust situation and FACES DEPORTATION AND POSSIBLE DEATH. Fo what? He is not allowed to know!

We demand that Mohamed Harkat:

1) Be released immediately

2) Not be deported

3) Be allowed due process: the right to a fair trial, the right to know what he is charged with, the right to hear evidence against him and the right to defend himself in court.

We also demand:

4) That the secretive and unjust Security Certificate mechanism be abolished immediately

5) An immediate end to all deportations to Algeria and a return to the moratorium on removals to Algeria


For more information please contact: Direct Action Casework Ottawa (DACO) at (613) 786-1015, daco@ziplip.com, or contact Mr. Harkat's lawyer Bruce Engel at (613) 235-6324.


JUSTICE FOR MOHAMED HARKAT AND AN END TO THE SECURITY CERTIFICATE


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