A report by Colin Freeze of The Globe and Mail HERE
CSIS has easy time getting warrants, documents reveal
posted on November 15, 2004 | in Category CSIS | PermaLinkNot So Fundamental Rights: CKUT Radio Documentary
posted on November 15, 2004 | in Category Security Certificates | PermaLink
More News:
For those of you who missed this excellent two-part documentary on security certificates and secret trials you can download both parts here, in MP3 format: PART I and PART II
They are excellent teaching tools. 'Really great interviews with Sophie, Mary Foster, Diana Ralph, Matthew Behrens, Mahmoud Jaballah's son Ahmed, Roch Tasse and others.
For those of you who missed this excellent two-part documentary on security certificates and secret trials you can download both parts here, in MP3 format: PART I and PART II
They are excellent teaching tools. 'Really great interviews with Sophie, Mary Foster, Diana Ralph, Matthew Behrens, Mahmoud Jaballah's son Ahmed, Roch Tasse and others.
Group protests use of security certificates
posted on November 10, 2004 | in Category Security Certificates | PermaLink
Original author: CBC News Staff
Source: CBC.CA
URL: N/A
Date: November 8, 2004
OTTAWA - Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside a Federal Court building in downtown Ottawa Monday to protest against Canada's security-certificate process.
That's the law the federal government can use to detain non-citizens on suspicion of terrorist ties, and deport them without revealing the evidence against them.
Lawyers for a Moroccan man, Adil Charkaoui, challenged the process, Monday, in Federal Court. Charkaoui has been held in jail under a security certificate since May 2003
Supporters of that challenge include Monia Mazigh, the wife of Maher Arar, the Syrian-born Canadian who was held in a Syrian jail for a year because of alleged ties to Al-Queda.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Source: CBC.CA
URL: N/A
Date: November 8, 2004
OTTAWA - Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside a Federal Court building in downtown Ottawa Monday to protest against Canada's security-certificate process.
That's the law the federal government can use to detain non-citizens on suspicion of terrorist ties, and deport them without revealing the evidence against them.
Lawyers for a Moroccan man, Adil Charkaoui, challenged the process, Monday, in Federal Court. Charkaoui has been held in jail under a security certificate since May 2003
Supporters of that challenge include Monia Mazigh, the wife of Maher Arar, the Syrian-born Canadian who was held in a Syrian jail for a year because of alleged ties to Al-Queda.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Security certificates 'against justice', appeal court told
posted on November 10, 2004 | in Category Security Certificates | PermaLink
Original author: Elizabeth Thompson
Source: The Montreal Gazette
URL: N/A
Date: November 9, 2004
Lawyer argues for terror suspect's release; government counters law isn't unconsititutional
Maher Arar's wife, Monia Mazigh and Adil Charkaoui's sister, Hind, were among protesters who say security certificates are unfair. The security certificate system used to detain suspected terrorists isn't perfect, but it shouldn't be declared unconstitutional, lawyers for the federal government argued yesterday. Presenting his arguments before the Federal Court of Appeal in the case of Montrealer Adil Charkaoui, Daniel Latulippe said a good judge, willing to play an active role, can go a long way to ensuring that someone detained under a security certificate gets a fair hearing.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Lawyer argues for terror suspect's release; government counters law isn't unconsititutional
Maher Arar's wife, Monia Mazigh and Adil Charkaoui's sister, Hind, were among protesters who say security certificates are unfair. The security certificate system used to detain suspected terrorists isn't perfect, but it shouldn't be declared unconstitutional, lawyers for the federal government argued yesterday. Presenting his arguments before the Federal Court of Appeal in the case of Montrealer Adil Charkaoui, Daniel Latulippe said a good judge, willing to play an active role, can go a long way to ensuring that someone detained under a security certificate gets a fair hearing.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Protest condemns detentions under federal security certificates
posted on November 08, 2004 | in Category Security Certificates | PermaLink
Original author: Canadian Press (CP)
Source: The Montreal Gazette online
URL: [link]
Date: November 08, 2004
OTTAWA -- About two dozen people demonstrated outside a federal office building Monday, protesting the use of security certificates which have been used to jail suspected terrorists without trial or charges.
Then demonstrators braved a bitter November wind on the street outside a courtroom where the Federal Court of Appeal was hearing a constitutional challenge against the certificates.
A three-judge panel heard an application brought on behalf of Adil Charkaoui, a Montreal man accused of being an al-Qaida sleeper agent. He has been held in jail since May 2003 and has lost three bids for bail.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Source: The Montreal Gazette online
URL: [link]
Date: November 08, 2004
OTTAWA -- About two dozen people demonstrated outside a federal office building Monday, protesting the use of security certificates which have been used to jail suspected terrorists without trial or charges.
Then demonstrators braved a bitter November wind on the street outside a courtroom where the Federal Court of Appeal was hearing a constitutional challenge against the certificates.
A three-judge panel heard an application brought on behalf of Adil Charkaoui, a Montreal man accused of being an al-Qaida sleeper agent. He has been held in jail since May 2003 and has lost three bids for bail.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Terror court hearing: one defendant, no witnesses
posted on November 07, 2004 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Michelle Shephard
Source: The Toronto Star onlnie
URL: [link] (subscribers only)
Date: November 6, 2004
Government reveals little of case against terror suspect
Lawyers challenging secret process used for detainees
It's often referred to as a quasi-judicial procedure, but even that definition might be generous when describing Mohamed Harkat's day in court last month in Ottawa. There was little that resembled a traditional legal hearing when the Algerian refugee, one of five men currently accused by the federal government of belonging to a terrorist organization, took the stand to profess his innocence. Harkat's defence consisted only of simple denials of the chilling accusations levelled by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. "No sir" or "never, ever" were his answers when asked if he was an Al Qaeda sleeper agent or a supporter of violent Islamic fundamentalism. The government did not call any witnesses to bolster the case it laid out in a 40-page summary at the time of Harkat's arrest.
[ Read the rest ... ]
It's often referred to as a quasi-judicial procedure, but even that definition might be generous when describing Mohamed Harkat's day in court last month in Ottawa. There was little that resembled a traditional legal hearing when the Algerian refugee, one of five men currently accused by the federal government of belonging to a terrorist organization, took the stand to profess his innocence. Harkat's defence consisted only of simple denials of the chilling accusations levelled by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. "No sir" or "never, ever" were his answers when asked if he was an Al Qaeda sleeper agent or a supporter of violent Islamic fundamentalism. The government did not call any witnesses to bolster the case it laid out in a 40-page summary at the time of Harkat's arrest.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Terror ties out of the question
posted on November 04, 2004 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Andrew Seymour
Source: The Ottawa Sun online
URL: N/A
Date: October 29, 2004
Feds avoid quizzing Harkat on al-Qaida
Government lawyers took little more than an hour to cross-examine alleged terrorist Mohamed Harkat yesterday, avoiding any direct allegations of terrorist activity and focusing their questions on where Harkat got his money to travel and a pair of lies he told CSIS agents. Although government lawyer James Matheson asked about Harkat's five years in an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan, he did not ask any questions about Abu Zubaydah, a top al-Qaida lieutenant who CSIS alleges identified Harkat as the proprietor of a Pakistani guest house for mujahedeen fighters following his capture in March 2002.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Government lawyers took little more than an hour to cross-examine alleged terrorist Mohamed Harkat yesterday, avoiding any direct allegations of terrorist activity and focusing their questions on where Harkat got his money to travel and a pair of lies he told CSIS agents. Although government lawyer James Matheson asked about Harkat's five years in an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan, he did not ask any questions about Abu Zubaydah, a top al-Qaida lieutenant who CSIS alleges identified Harkat as the proprietor of a Pakistani guest house for mujahedeen fighters following his capture in March 2002.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Terror suspect's trial hears of funds to buy passport
posted on November 03, 2004 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Canadian Press (CP)
Source: The Globe and Mail online
URL: [link]
Date: October 29, 2004
Ottawa - Mohamed Harkat, an Ottawa man accused of being an al-Qaeda sleeper agent, was grilled yesterday about where he got $1,200 (U.S.) to buy the fake passport he used to enter Canada.
Crown counsel James Mathieson questioned whether Mr. Harkat could have saved a total of $18,000 (U.S.) working at a charitable organization in Pakistan in the early 1990s.
The government is trying to deport the 36-year-old man, a refugee from Algeria, under a national security certificate because the Canadian Security Intelligence Service says he is an Islamic extremist and collaborator with Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.
Proceedings adjourned yesterday until Dec. 6.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Source: The Globe and Mail online
URL: [link]
Date: October 29, 2004
Ottawa - Mohamed Harkat, an Ottawa man accused of being an al-Qaeda sleeper agent, was grilled yesterday about where he got $1,200 (U.S.) to buy the fake passport he used to enter Canada.
Crown counsel James Mathieson questioned whether Mr. Harkat could have saved a total of $18,000 (U.S.) working at a charitable organization in Pakistan in the early 1990s.
The government is trying to deport the 36-year-old man, a refugee from Algeria, under a national security certificate because the Canadian Security Intelligence Service says he is an Islamic extremist and collaborator with Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.
Proceedings adjourned yesterday until Dec. 6.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Terror suspect says he lost 18,000 dollars at casino
posted on November 03, 2004 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Andrew Duffy
Source: The Ottawa Citizen
URL: N/A
Date: October 29, 2004
Harkat tells hearing about money borrowed from Pakistani friend
Accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat says his gambling addiction was so serious that he once lost 18,000 dollars at the Casino du Lac-Leamy and had himself banned from the facility. His admission came yesterday as government lawyer James Mathieson questioned him about the circumstances surrounding an 18,000 dollar loan he received from a friend in Peshawar, Pakistan, identified only as Mokhtar.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat says his gambling addiction was so serious that he once lost 18,000 dollars at the Casino du Lac-Leamy and had himself banned from the facility. His admission came yesterday as government lawyer James Mathieson questioned him about the circumstances surrounding an 18,000 dollar loan he received from a friend in Peshawar, Pakistan, identified only as Mokhtar.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Ottawa terror suspect quizzed on fake passport
posted on November 02, 2004 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Canadian Press (CP)
Source CTV News online - CTV.CA
URL: [link]
Date: October 28, 2004
OTTAWA - Mohamed Harkat, an Ottawa man accused of being an al-Qaida sleeper agent, was grilled Thursday about where he got $1,200 US to buy the fake passport he used to enter Canada.
Crown counsel James Mathieson questioned whether Harkat could have saved up a total of $18,000 US working at a charitable organization in Pakistan in the early 1990s.
"That's pretty good money for that part of the world, isn't it?'' Mathieson asked Harkat during the Federal Court of Canada hearing.
The government is trying to deport the 36-year-old Harkat, a refugee from Algeria, under a national security certificate based on information collected by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Source CTV News online - CTV.CA
URL: [link]
Date: October 28, 2004
OTTAWA - Mohamed Harkat, an Ottawa man accused of being an al-Qaida sleeper agent, was grilled Thursday about where he got $1,200 US to buy the fake passport he used to enter Canada.
Crown counsel James Mathieson questioned whether Harkat could have saved up a total of $18,000 US working at a charitable organization in Pakistan in the early 1990s.
"That's pretty good money for that part of the world, isn't it?'' Mathieson asked Harkat during the Federal Court of Canada hearing.
The government is trying to deport the 36-year-old Harkat, a refugee from Algeria, under a national security certificate based on information collected by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
[ Read the rest ... ]
