Canada is moving closer to deporting terror suspect Mohamed Harkat after federal officials received diplomatic assurances that he won't be tortured in his native Algeria, his lawyer revealed yesterday.
A draft memo received by Mr. Harkat's legal team this week recommends the Ottawa man be deported, lawyer Paul Copeland said yesterday.
"It's the next step in the process," he said, adding he would argue against such a deportation order.
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Mohamed Harkat
Canada set to deport Harkat, lawyer reveals
posted on October 26, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Neco Cockburn
Source: The Ottawa Citizen
URL: [link]
Date: October 26, 2005
Algeria has assured federal officials it won't torture suspected Ottawa terrorist, memo says
Harkat moved closer to deportation
posted on October 26, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: CBC News Staff
Source: CBC News
URL: [link]
Date: October 26, 2005
As Mohamed Harkat's bail hearing continues Wednesday, his legal team says it's seen a memo that suggests the government is ready to move ahead with deportation, because it's been given assurances from Algeria that Harkat will not face torture there.
Lawyer Matt Webber says they'll fight the deportation order, which was upheld by the Federal Court in September. He says they have the right to respond, and that it "will take several months to prepare our response."
Harkat is an Algerian refugee arrested in December 2002 after CSIS accused him of being an al-Qaeda "sleeper." The security agency alleges that Harkat is an Islamic extremist who trained under Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants in Afghanistan.
Harkat has been held in jail on a security certificate for nearly three years. Security certificates allow the government to detain suspected terrorists indefinitely without charge.
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Source: CBC News
URL: [link]
Date: October 26, 2005
As Mohamed Harkat's bail hearing continues Wednesday, his legal team says it's seen a memo that suggests the government is ready to move ahead with deportation, because it's been given assurances from Algeria that Harkat will not face torture there.
Lawyer Matt Webber says they'll fight the deportation order, which was upheld by the Federal Court in September. He says they have the right to respond, and that it "will take several months to prepare our response."
Harkat is an Algerian refugee arrested in December 2002 after CSIS accused him of being an al-Qaeda "sleeper." The security agency alleges that Harkat is an Islamic extremist who trained under Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants in Afghanistan.
Harkat has been held in jail on a security certificate for nearly three years. Security certificates allow the government to detain suspected terrorists indefinitely without charge.
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Harkat testifies, agrees he'd abide by bail conditions
posted on October 26, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Neco Cockburn
Source: The Ottawa Citizen
URL: [link] (subscribers only)
Date: October 25, 2005
Supporters pledge to ensure he doesn't speak Arabic or use Internet, cellphones
Mohamed Harkat yesterday denied knowingly having terrorist ties and agreed to a wide range of strict bail conditions that could see him released from jail, where his mental health is said to be deteriorating.
"It's like a nightmare for me," he said of the 34 months he has spent in jail since being arrested on suspicion of being an al-Qaeda operative.
Mr. Harkat, his wife, and other supporters were in Federal Court yesterday for the first day of a bail hearing for the Ottawa man, who has been under a deportation order to his native Algeria since March. He is seeking release pending the outcome of a constitutional appeal.
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Algerian held on security certificate seeks bail
posted on October 26, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: CBC News Staff
Source: CBC News
URL: [link]
Date: October 24, 2005
Lawyers for Mohammed Harkat were in court Monday morning on the first day of a bail hearing for the Algerian refugee claimant who has been detained under a security certificate for nearly three years.
Harkat has spent the past 34 months at the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Detention Centre since he was arrested and accused by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service of being a sleeper agent for Al Qaeda - an allegation that his family denies.
The conditions Harkats lawyers are asking for - which includes curfews, electronic monitoring, a ban on using computers and maybe even speaking his native Arabic - would make it difficult for Harkat to pose a danger to anyone.
"We're proposing a bail that is really as strict a bail as one could imagine," said lawyer Matt Webber.
Harkat's supporters offered large sureties for his release. Mother-in-law Pierrette Brunet put up her savings of 50,000 dollars and his wife, Sophie Harkat, says the family is ready to meet any conditions set by the court.
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Source: CBC News
URL: [link]
Date: October 24, 2005
Lawyers for Mohammed Harkat were in court Monday morning on the first day of a bail hearing for the Algerian refugee claimant who has been detained under a security certificate for nearly three years.
Harkat has spent the past 34 months at the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Detention Centre since he was arrested and accused by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service of being a sleeper agent for Al Qaeda - an allegation that his family denies.
The conditions Harkats lawyers are asking for - which includes curfews, electronic monitoring, a ban on using computers and maybe even speaking his native Arabic - would make it difficult for Harkat to pose a danger to anyone.
"We're proposing a bail that is really as strict a bail as one could imagine," said lawyer Matt Webber.
Harkat's supporters offered large sureties for his release. Mother-in-law Pierrette Brunet put up her savings of 50,000 dollars and his wife, Sophie Harkat, says the family is ready to meet any conditions set by the court.
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Terror suspect deteriorating
posted on October 26, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Holly Lake
Source: The Ottawa Sun
URL: [link]
Date: October 26, 2005
Jail bad for Harkat's health, doc tells hearing
Being jailed on secret evidence and without charge for the past 35 months has taken a toll on Mohamed Harkat's health.
Dr. Colin Cameron, a psychiatrist at the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre in Brockville, told a Federal Court yesterday Harkat is suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Noting what's traumatic for one person might not be for another, Cameron said that "being in prison in itself qualifies as a traumatic event."
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Terror suspect's wife cries out
posted on October 25, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Holly Lake
Source: The Ottawa Sun
URL: [link]
Date: October 25, 2005
The wife of terror suspect Mohamed Harkat made an emotional plea for his release yesterday.
At a Federal Court hearing where her husband is seeking bail pending the outcome of his Supreme Court appeal, Sophie Harkat broke down when asked how his 35-month detention has impacted her life.
[ PHOTO - Sophie Harkat leaves the Supreme Court building yesterday after her husband's appeal hearing, which continues today. (Jason Ransom, SUN) ]
"If Mo is granted bail, I will be granted (bail) as well," she said. "My life has been turned upside down. The Federal Court needs to give us a break here and trust us with this."
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Federal questioning of accused terrorist 'offensive,' says lawyer
posted on October 25, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Jim Bronskill
Source: CANOE CNEWS Network
URL: [link]
Date: October 24, 2005
OTTAWA (CP) - A lawyer for accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat slammed the government Monday for trying to uncover how much bail money supporters of his client had raised from Muslims.
Harkat, an alleged al-Qaida sleeper agent, is seeking release from the Ottawa detention centre in which he has spent the last 34 months. His backers have marshalled 35,000 dollars in cash and tens of thousands more dollars in assurances in an attempt to persuade the Federal Court of Canada to grant him bail.
Harkat's counsel told Justice Francois Lemieux that the Ottawa man, arrested in December 2002, would agree to strict release conditions that effectively amount to house arrest.
Harkat's wife, Sophie, broke down in tears when asked what her husband's freedom from jail would mean.
"My life has been turned upside-down and I'm willing to do anything so my husband can be home," she told the court.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Source: CANOE CNEWS Network
URL: [link]
Date: October 24, 2005
OTTAWA (CP) - A lawyer for accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat slammed the government Monday for trying to uncover how much bail money supporters of his client had raised from Muslims.
Harkat, an alleged al-Qaida sleeper agent, is seeking release from the Ottawa detention centre in which he has spent the last 34 months. His backers have marshalled 35,000 dollars in cash and tens of thousands more dollars in assurances in an attempt to persuade the Federal Court of Canada to grant him bail.
Harkat's counsel told Justice Francois Lemieux that the Ottawa man, arrested in December 2002, would agree to strict release conditions that effectively amount to house arrest.
Harkat's wife, Sophie, broke down in tears when asked what her husband's freedom from jail would mean.
"My life has been turned upside-down and I'm willing to do anything so my husband can be home," she told the court.
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Lawyers in Federal Court seek bail for terror suspect Harkat
posted on October 24, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Canadian Press (CP)
Source : The Brandon Sun (Manitoba, Canada)
URL: [link]
Date: October 24, 2005
OTTAWA (CP) - Lawyers representing Mohamed Harkat, who has been held for 34 months as an accused terrorist, are in Federal Court seeking bail for their client.
Harkat has been in custody in Ottawa since he was arrested in December 2002, on suspicion of being an al-Qaida sleeper agent. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service contends Harkat is an Islamic extremist and collaborator with Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.
Harkat is one of five Muslim men being held on security certificates issued under federal immigration law.
A federal judge upheld the certificate last March, potentially clearing the way for his deportation, but Harkat denies involvement in terrorism and wants to remain in Canada.
In February, a judge released Moroccan-born Adil Charkaoui of Montreal, another detainee, on 50,000 dollars bail with strict conditions.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Source : The Brandon Sun (Manitoba, Canada)
URL: [link]
Date: October 24, 2005
OTTAWA (CP) - Lawyers representing Mohamed Harkat, who has been held for 34 months as an accused terrorist, are in Federal Court seeking bail for their client.
Harkat has been in custody in Ottawa since he was arrested in December 2002, on suspicion of being an al-Qaida sleeper agent. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service contends Harkat is an Islamic extremist and collaborator with Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.
Harkat is one of five Muslim men being held on security certificates issued under federal immigration law.
A federal judge upheld the certificate last March, potentially clearing the way for his deportation, but Harkat denies involvement in terrorism and wants to remain in Canada.
In February, a judge released Moroccan-born Adil Charkaoui of Montreal, another detainee, on 50,000 dollars bail with strict conditions.
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Harkat suffers visions of torture
posted on October 24, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Andrew Duffy
Source: The Ottawa Citizen
URL: [link]
Date: October 24, 2005
Terror suspect suffers visions of torture
psychiatrist: Mohamed Harkat's mental health 'worsening';
applies for bail pending constitutional appeal
Ottawa's Mohamed Harkat, imprisoned for more than two years as a terrorist suspect, suffers major depression and is afflicted by visions of his own torture, according to a psychiatric assessment filed with the Federal Court of Canada.
The psychiatric report forms part of Mr. Harkat's bail application, which begins today when the accused al-Qaeda operative takes the witness stand.
"I believe that Mr. Harkat's mental health is liable to worsen the longer he stays incarcerated," psychiatrist Dr. Colin Cameron concludes. "In particular, his vivid nightmares of facing torture in Algeria have started only since his incarceration."
In those night terrors, he said, Mr. Harkat "even experiences body sensations as if his fingernails are being pulled out or his skin is being scraped off."
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Harkat Bail hearing, Oct 24
posted on October 24, 2005 | in Category Mohamed Harkat | PermaLink
Original author: Christian Legeais de la Comité Justice pour Mohamed Harkat
Source: Harkat Email List (Riseup.net)
Date: 23 octobre 2005
For Immediate release
Friday October 21, 2005
Bail Hearing for Secret Trial Detainee Mohamed Harkat
------------
Monday, October 24, 2005 9: 30 am,
East Courtroom
Supreme Court of Canada Building,
301 Wellington Street. Ottawa
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Ottawa - On October 24, 25 and 26, 2005, Mohamed Harkat will be returning to the Federal Court in Ottawa to seek bail.
Mohamed Harkat, a convention refugee from Algeria was arrested in Ottawa on International Human Rights Day in December 2002 under a Security Certificate. He is one of the five Muslim men who has been imprisoned here in Canada for over four years without any charges or bail, on secret evidence; all are denied a fair trial and threatened with deportation. None of the cases have access to any of the evidence collected by CSIS for "National Security" reasons.
Mohamed Harkat, detained almost three years without charge or bail at the Ottawa Correctional Centre, begins a bail hearing in an attempt to finally win release to his wife, Sophie Harkat, and family. Mohamed Harkat will testify Monday morning, followed by individuals who have come forward as bail sureties.
On October 20, Paul Copeland, Mohamed Harkat lawyer, has file an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada asking the court to hear Mohamed Harkat's case.
For information:
Christian Legeais: (613) 276-9102
Sophie Harkat: (613) 290-9144
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