Security Certificates

PRESS RELEASE Source: Justice Dept. of CANADA URL: [link] Date: February 22, 2008 Special Advocates for Bill C-3 (Security Certificates under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act)

The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today named 13 special advocates, as part of the Government's legislation to amend the security certificate process under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Parliament has passed legislation to strengthen and improve an immigration process that is designed to protect Canadians from threats while respecting individual rights and freedoms. Under the legislation, which came into force on February 22, 2008, the Minister of Justice is responsible for establishing a list of special advocates. Special advocates - who are qualified lawyers - will protect the interests and rights of individuals who are subject to security certificates, ensuring they are adequately represented during closed proceedings. After consultation with various organizations such as the Canadian Bar Association and the Federation of Law Societies, the Department of Justice issued a Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) for the special advocates program on December 20, 2007. Through an independent process, qualified candidates were recommended to the Minister of Justice. The list of special advocates follows: * Ronald G. Atkey * Nancy Brooks * Gordon Cameron * Paul D. Copeland * Paul J. J. Cavalluzzo * François Dadour * James R. K. Duggan * Brian Gover * Anil K. Kapoor * Barbara McIsaac * John Norris * Lorne Waldman * Ivan G. Whitehall

By "Justice for Adil"
Source: Coalition Justice pour Adil Charkauoi
URL: [link]
Date: February 26, 2008


Hello again,

If you can put this call for letters out in your networks and take the time to respond to some of the horrific racism and distortions out there, please do! There is a lot of racist response, there is very little defense of these men, their families and the communities who are being subjected to the hatred and xenophobia of these attacks.

mary

--

Below:

1. Act Now by Writing to the Media
2. Audio: No new security certificates!
3. Press Release: Charkaoui responds to new certificate

::::ACT NOW BY WRITING TO THE MEDIA: OPPOSE NEW SECURITY CERTIFICATE::::

Please write letters to the editor, post online, or call in to radio shows
into the various media outlets that are covering the introduction of the
new security certificate. We strongly urge and stress to supporters the
importance of voicing your opinion on this issue and adding your thoughts
to the debate. Although it may seem futile given the biases that have been
clearly stated by various media outlets, it is still absolutely crucial
for us to enter this public debate and discourse at this time.

Media contact information: [link]

Analysis of C-3: [link]

::::Audio: No new security certificates!:::::

On Thursday, 21 February, the Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui organized
a press conference to condemn the new law and call on the government to not
issue new certificates against Charkaoui and the other detainees. Warren
Allmand (International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group), Adil Charkaoui,
Gaétan Châteauneuf (Conseil centrale de Montréal - CSN), Johanne Doyon (who
brought the constitutional challenge to the Supreme Court), Salam Elmenyawi
(Muslim Council of Montreal), Mostafa Henaway (Immigrant Workers Centre),
and Marie-Ève Lamy (Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui) all spoke.

Audio from press conference: [link]

Press Release, "Groups call on government not to renew security
certificates": [link]

::::Press Release: Charkaoui responds to new certificate::::

Montreal, 22 February 2008 -- Mr. Charkaoui categorically denies the
allegations made against him in the context of the new security certificate
that was issued against him today. As he has consistently requested for the
past five years, Charkaoui asks for a meaningful opportunity to clear his
name of precise and defined charges in the context of a fair and open trial.

Continue reading release: [link]

Background on Charkaoui case: [link]

-------------
Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui
[link]
[email]
tel. 514 848 7583

To join newslist: [email].

By Matthew Behrens Source: The Campaign To Stop Secret Trials in Canada URL: [link] Date: February 24, 2008 New Allegations, Same Old Secret Trials Scare Headlines and Character Assassination a Typical Diversion from the Undemocratic Nature of Security Certificates

(update from the Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada) February 24, 2008 -- In typical government style, a series of rehashed ancient suspicions, new unfounded allegations, and outright lies against secret trial detainees Mahmoud Jaballah, Mohammad Mahjoub, Hassan Almrei, Mohamed Harkat, and Adil Charkaoui were “released” last Friday afternoon. Conveniently, there was little or no opportunity for informed journalists to put things into perspective and get beyond the fear-mongering the allegations are meant to inspire. In a highly politicized move, the Federal Court of Canada for the first time posted on its home page the so-called “public summaries” of the cases against four of the five Muslim men subject to security certificates. (Why four out of five? In perhaps another sign of the incompetence of the CSIS sponsors of secret trials, one of the summaries is attributed to the wrong guy. As if that weren’t bad enough, a summary package hand delivered to another of the detainees had a cover letter addressed to...someone other than himself!). There is no context to these Federal Court postings, no explanation that these are only unproven allegations based on speculation about some possible past, present, or future behaviour, no chance for those whose names are slandered through this process to respond. They are simply there as “official-looking” documents that doom the reputations of those who have yet to have a hearing. And when they do get to court, they will be told that the basis for these allegations is a secret neither they nor their lawyers can challenge.

[ Read the rest ... ]

Par Mario Girard et Catherine Handfield
Source: La Presse
URL: [link]
Date: 24 février 2008


Le renouvellement de cinq certificats de sécurité à l’endroit d’Adil Charkaoui et de quatre autres individus soupçonnés d’entretenir des activités terroristes suscite l’indignation générale. Malgré les nouvelles allégations publiées samedi qui accompagnent ces certificats, plusieurs doutent de l’existence de preuves valables pouvant mener à de véritables accusations.

Il y a un an, la Cour suprême concluait que des certificats de sécurité émis par le gouvernement au sujet de résidants canadiens d’origine musulmane étaient illégaux. Après avoir récemment procédé à une refonte de la loi sur l’immigration qui inclut maintenant la notion d’» avocat spécial », le gouvernement publiait hier de nouveaux certificats. Il rendait également publiques de nouvelles informations concernant ces cinq individus.

Ces allégations visent Adil Charkaoui, qui aurait essayé d’obtenir un emploi à l’aéroport de Montréal après avoir discuté de la préparation d’un attentat avec d’autres personnes. Elles visent aussi les Égyptiens Mahmoud Jaballah et Mohamed Zeki Mahjoub, l’Algérien Mohamed Harkat et le Syrien Hassan Almrei, qui ont fait l’objet d’écoute téléphonique et de diverses observations.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Colin Freeze, Tu Thanh Ha and Omar el Akkad
Source: The Globe and Mail
URL: [link] Date: February 23, 2008


OTTAWA and MONTREAL -- The case against a group of Canadians sometimes referred to as "the Secret Trial Five" isn't as secret as it used to be.

Ottawa unveiled more specific allegations against the five terrorism suspects yesterday: for example, that one suspect called the satellite phone of al-Qaeda's second-in-command, and that another was in charge of a group of training camp recruits in Afghanistan.

In hundreds of pages of court documents yesterday, Canadian ministers signed new security certificates against alleged members of the al-Qaeda network. In doing so, the government narrowly beat a date imposed by the Supreme Court for the previous certificates to expire.

[ Read the rest ... ]

Jim Bronskill (CP) Source: The Toronto Star URL: [link] Date: February 23, 2008 CSIS information outlined in newly filed documents in security certificate cases

OTTAWA–A Montreal man accused of terrorist ties displayed secretive and violent behaviour and once discussed commandeering a commercial aircraft for "aggressive ends," Canada's spy service alleges. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service allegations against Morocco-born Adil Charkaoui came late yesterday as Ottawa renewed efforts to deport five men accused of terrorist links.

[ Read the rest ... ]

By Stewart Bell, Graeme Hamilton and Allison Hanes Source: The National Post URL: [link] Date: February 23, 2008 CSIS opens files on terrorism suspects Deportations Urged

Federal officials opened up their secret files on five suspected members of the Osama bin Laden network yesterday, disclosing previously classified details of their alleged terrorist activities in Canada. Hundreds of pages of documents filed in Federal Court in Ottawa lay out for the first time the evidence that has led the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to conclude the men are foreign terrorists. The court filings also reveal the array of intelligence-gathering tactics used against the suspects, from telephone wiretaps to clandestine searches, suggesting a new willingness on the part of CSIS to go public with its secrets after years of fighting to protect them. The case summaries include quotes from wiretaps.

[ Read the rest ... ]

Source: Email correspondence of Sophie Harkat URL: N/A Date: February 22, 2008 Special Advocates for Bill C-3 (Security Certificates under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act)

February 22, 2008 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today named 13 special advocates, as part of the Government’s legislation to amend the security certificate process under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Parliament has passed legislation to strengthen and improve an immigration process that is designed to protect Canadians from threats while respecting individual rights and freedoms. Under the legislation, which came into force on February 22, 2008, the Minister of Justice is responsible for establishing a list of special advocates. Special advocates – who are qualified lawyers - will protect the interests and rights of individuals who are subject to security certificates, ensuring they are adequately represented during closed proceedings. After consultation with various organizations such as the Canadian Bar Association and the Federation of Law Societies, the Department of Justice issued a Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) for the special advocates program on December 20, 2007. Through an independent process, qualified candidates were recommended to the Minister of Justice. The list of special advocates follows: * Ronald G. Atkey * Nancy Brooks * Gordon Cameron * Paul D. Copeland * Paul J. J. Cavalluzzo * François Dadour * James R. K. Duggan * Brian Gover * Anil K. Kapoor * Barbara McIsaac * John Norris * Lorne Waldman * Ivan G. Whitehall

Source: TamilNet URL: [link] Date: February 22, 2008 The Canadian Parliament's Bill C-3, enacted on February 12, came into force Friday, amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 2000, one day before a Supreme Court deadline expired. The 2000 Act enabled the Government to detain and deport non-nationals it deemed inadmissible. Bill C-3 is in response to Supreme Court criticism that the security certificate regime was unconstitutional because it deprived concerned individuals of the opportunity to defend themselves because evidence cited for the government's decision to detain or deport could be withheld from the individuals, their legal representatives and the public under terms of national security.

There are five North African and Arab men and one Sri Lankan Tamil currently under the (old) IRPA legislation.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Hall Sisson
Source: The Canadian
URL: [link]
Date: February 22, 2008


On another one of the many days of infamy in the world's history, Feb 6th, 2008, by a vote of 191 - 54, the minority Canadian Parliament thoughtlessly passed legislation that smelled like a kangaroo in a Star Chamber - Bill C-3. The stench rivalled that of the U.S. Patriot Acts it emulated.

Okay, so for those Canadian citizens who weren't paying attention in class or haven't yet been bothered to become aware of the odious content, C-3 is the so-called Security Certificates Legislation, the latest reincarnation of the Terrorism Bill that replaced the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) that was passed in the aftermath of 9/11. This is the bill that denies Canadians the presumption of innocence, an open trial, the right to know one's accusers, to have equal access to evidence presented against an accused - in short the abrogation of the rule of law as we have come to know it.

[ Read the rest ... ]