by Andrew Duffy , Canwest News Service
Source: Canada.com National News
URL: [link]
Date: February 28, 2008


OTTAWA - Five men publicly accused by the federal government of being terrorists want the right to contest allegations posted on the Federal Court of Canada's website.

In an open letter to Chief Justice Allan Lufty, two groups representing the terror suspects argue it is "unprecedented for a court to post 'evidence' for public review until it has been tested in court."

They've asked Lufty to grant them the right post links on the court's website that would take readers to pages that offer a defence to the government's unproven allegations.

The issue promises to help define the meaning of an open justice system in an age when information can be accessed instantly, and by virtually anyone, on the Internet.

"Our desire would be to see the court put balanced information up there," said Matthew Behrens, co-author of the letter and an organizer with the Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada.

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