Bail granted to suspected terrorist Charkaoui

posted on February 17, 2005 | in Category Security Certificates | PermaLink

Original author: Nelson Wyatt
Source: Canadian Press (CP) and The Montreal Gazette
URL: [link]
Date: February 17, 2005


MONTREAL (CP) -- Federal Court ruled Thursday that a man suspected of being a sleeper agent for the al-Qaida terrorist network be released on $50,000 bail.

Justice Simon Noel's ruling came after Adil Charkaoui's fourth bid for release. Federal officials said Thursday there will be no appeal.

"The court has rendered its decision and we have to respect it,'' said Daniel Lavoie, a spokesman for Public Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Charkaoui has been held on a national security certificate for nearly two years after being arrested. The certificate, a controversial provision of the Immigration Act, means most of the evidence against him is seen only by the government and the judge.Charkaoui, 31, has denied having any terrorist links. He faced deportation to his native Morocco.

Noel said in his ruling that Charkaoui seemed to pose little threat.

"The danger to national security and to the security of others has eased with time..I would even say the danger has been neutralized at the time of this evaluation,'' he wrote.

He also noted the support for Charkaoui from people in several walks of life, including politics, religion, the labour movement and the arts.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Denys Arcand was among those who posted $50,000 in bail for Charkaoui.

Noel also wrote that Charkaoui has the emotional and financial support of his family.

"Although it is to be expected that family members rally in these circumstances, the fact remains that their persistence and devotion in the case are edifying and a tribute to them.

"Therein lies a potential sanctuary of calm and possibly of security.''

He also said Charkaoui has been in detention for 21 months and that his contact with the outside world during that period has been "extremely limited.''

Charkaoui's sister, Hind, was elated by the news of her brother's release.

"It's incredible,'' she told The Canadian Press. "It's been 20 months of separation.''

She said she wavered between optimism and pessimism because her brother had been denied bail three times.

"But this time I had hope, I would say 95 per cent, because my brother took a polygraph test, he testified even though he didn't know what evidence they had against him,'' she said. "He did everything to get his freedom.''

Hind Charkaoui said the family has been flooded with calls of support since she heard the news of her brother's release. She said she was not sure when her brother would be released.

Simone MacAndrew, a spokeswoman for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, said it is unlikely Charkaoui would be released Thursday.

"Usually the judge says the two parties have to agree on the conditions,'' she said in an interview from Ottawa.

"There might be a delay of a couple of days.''

Noel ordered that under the conditions of his bail, Charkaoui must respect a curfew, stay with his family and wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Limits were also placed on who he can contact and on his use of computers.

© Canadian Press 2005