By: Samir Shaheen-Hussain September 3, 2005 [Please note that according to a statement read at a rally held in Toronto today (September 3, 2005: see statement below), Hassan Almrei, on the 73rd day of his hunger strike, expressing his sorrow that the government will not give him his rights, expressing his faith in the people of Canada, said that the outcry following his hunger-strike has given him enough new hope that he will end his hunger-strike, but not the struggle for his rights. Mohammad Mahjoub continues with his hunger strike, having completed his 59th day today.] On Friday, September 2nd, 2005, a group of health professionals made up of nurses and medical doctors formed a delegation to Prime Minister Paul Martin's office in Old Montreal. We wanted to present the PM with a letter outlining our grave concerns about the health and well-being of Mr. Hassan Almrei and Mr. Mohammad Mahjoub who, along with 3 other Muslim men, make up the "Secret Trial Five". Mr. Almrei and Mr. Mahjoub are currently being detained under a security certificate process in Metro West Detention Centre in Toronto and had been on a hunger strike for 72 and 58 days, respectively, as of September 2nd. The goal of the delegation was to focus attention on the prolonged hunger strike of these two men, while urging the PM to act immediately to have their demands met so that their health and lives are no longer at risk. Their demands are modest, to say the least, given that they have been held without charges and without having access to any evidence that may be being used against them as part of the security certificate process for four and five years, respectively; Mr. Almrei's principal demand is to be allowed to have one hour outside his solitary confinement cell while Mr. Mahjoub's is to have contact visits with his wife and children. Although two men are not convicted of any crime, they are demanding no treatment beyond that which is accorded to most federal prisoners!

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