Federal Court decision is unjust

posted on March 24, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink

Source: Press Release from The Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee Date: March 23, 2005 For Immediate Release 23 March 2005 Harkat Federal Court decision "unjust" Supporters vow to continue fight

OTTAWA - Supporters of Mohammed Harkat vowed today to continue their fight against "security certificates" in the face of a Federal Court Decision that upholds the controversial tool that has kept Harkat in prison for over two years without charge. Justiice Eleanor Dawson stated in her decision which was announced yesterday and based on secret "evidence" heard in the absence of Mr. Harkat and his counsel that: "an order will issue determining the security certificate to be reasonable." Supporters of Harkat denounced the decision as just another step in an unjust process."Of course we were hoping for a different decision but we are not shocked by yesterday's outcome," said Christian Legeais with Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee. "There is no justice with a process that does not conform to essential international legal standards." Under a security certificate, neither the detainee nor their lawyer are informed of the precise allegations or provided with the full information against them. Evidence can be presented at any time to the judge in the absence of the detainee and their lawyer. Normal standards of evidence are explicitly waived. There is no open process to decide a person's guilt or innocence, and a Federal Court judge merely has to decide whether a certificate is "reasonable". Harkat's supporters are frustrated with the decision, but will not be deterred. "We have never been more focused, organized, and determined to seek justice for Mohamed Harkat and the four other Muslim men being held under security certificates," said Kevin Skerrett, a member of the committee. "We demand that Paul Martin and Anne McLellan abolish the security certificate process and re-write national security provisions in compliance with the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms, and with international agreements such as the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights." The Security certificate process denies Harkat the right to appeal, and he now faces deportation to Algeria, his country of origin. Harkat was granted refugee status in 1997 by another Federal Court judge, claiming government persecution if he were to return there. Amnesty International has stated that Harkat faces the risk of serious human rights abuses, including torture, if deported there. Sophie Harkat, wife of Mohamed, will spend today with family. Sophie will issue a statement along with Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee and human rights organisations at a press conference today, March 23, 2005 at 233 Gilmour Street, PSAC Building in Ottawa. Sophie will continue to fight for justice and freedom for her husband. A rally will be held today at 5:00pm at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa (Elgin and Lisgar) in support of Mohamed Harkat and to denounce the Government of Canada's oppressive use of Security Certificates and disregard of human rights. For more information contact: Kevin Skerrett, Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee: (613) 864-1590 Christian Legeais, Comité Justice pour Mohamed Harkat: (613) 276-9102 [email] [link]