Original author: CTV News Staff
Source: CTV.ca
URL: [link]
Date: July 13 2006

Lawyers representing the federal government argued Thursday that accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat should not have been released on bail last month.

The lawyers told the Federal Court of Appeal that Harkat posed a great threat to national security and should be returned to a special holding cell for suspected terrorists.

On June 21, Harkat returned to his Ottawa-area home after a Federal Court judge granted him strict bail conditions, citing "unexplained delays'' in the case.

Harkat had been held in jail on a controversial security certificate for more than three years over allegations that he has ties to al Qaeda .In an attempt to overturn the bail decision, the government lawyers argued that the court-ordered GPS tracking bracelet would not work in tunnels or parking lots.

They said this would provide an opportunity for al Qaeda communications.

The three-judge panel, however, dismissed this argument asking why the lawyers had not brought up this issue during bail hearing.

The lawyers went on to cite national security concerns, saying that Harkat should be deported from the country.

After the government lawyers presented their case, the panel did not ask Harkat's lawyers to respond.

In her May ruling, Federal Court Judge Eleanor Dawson ruled that Harkat was eligible for bail based on the following strict conditions:

Harkat is one of five Muslim men being held on controversial security certificates issued under federal immigration law.

On Monday, he said he fears being tortured or killed if he is sent back to his native Algeria.

The panel is expected to rule on the appeal at 3 p.m. Eastern time.

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