by Justin Sadler
Source: The Ottawa Sun
URL: [link]
Date: Deember 9, 2010


[PHOTO: Ottawa resident Mohamed Harkat has been either in jail, or house arrest under strict conditions, since being arrested on a national security certificate eight years ago. The Supreme Court ruled Thursday he does pose a security risk to the country.]

A federal court judge has ruled that Ottawa resident Mohamed Harkat does pose a threat to national security, meaning he could be kicked out of the country.

The court ruled there are reasonable grounds to believe Harkat has engaged in terrorism, is a danger to the security of Canada and is a member of the Bin Laden terror network through his past work for the Khattab group and his association with terrorists and Islamist extremists such as Ahmed Said Khadr and Abu Messab Al Shehre.

In its ruling, the court "finds that he was not truthful, honest or transparent.

"The Court concludes that, while in Canada, Mohamed Harkat maintained contacts and assisted Islamist extremists, and used some methodologies typical of a 'sleeper agent'."

The court said that although Harkat's threat has diminished, a danger remains,

When informed of the ruling, Harkat broke down in tears in the office of his Ottawa lawyer. He and wife Sophie are reported to be "devastated" by the ruling, but they are not planning to speak publicly today.

Lawyers for Mohamed Harkat will appeal the decision handed down Thursday in federal court. Asked whether there would be an appeal, Matthew Webber, Harkat’s lawyer, said: “Absolutely, absolutely.”

He said the legal team was working on a formal response and would release further details later.

It was eight years ago this month that Harkat was arrested on a national security certificate.

Harkat, who worked as a gas station attendant and pizza delivery driver, was accused of operating a safehouse for Islamic extremists in Pakistan and having associations with a known jihadist and a top al-Qaida operative, both now deceased.

The Algerian refugee was arrested in December 2002 and held for 3 1/2 years before his release on bail in June 2006. He has remained out of jail under strict conditions ever since.

The ruling means federal officials can now pursue having him deported from Canada to his native Algeria, where Harkat and his defence team have maintained he could face torture.

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