Canadian Refugee Might be Tortured because of CSIS Security Certificate
Terry Wilson, while working for C.A.N has been covering the story of Mohamed Harkat since 2011. If you are a Canadian and if you haven’t heard of Mohamed Harkat’s story then you are being kept in the dark to the type of power the Government of Canada has over someone if that person is labelled a terrorist, and it doesn’t matter if the allegations are true or not.
Below is information compiled together from Terry’s articles over the past couple years, along with updated information:
Mohamed Harkat arrived in Canada in 1995. In 1997, he was granted status as a Convention refugee after successfully claiming government persecution if he were to return to Algeria. On December 10, 2002, Mohamed Harkat was arrested by undercover police outside his home in Ottawa for suspicion of being connected to Al-Qaida. Mohamed spent one year of his 3 ½ year detention in solitary confinement. He was released on bail on June 21, 2006, with the strictest bail conditions in Canadian history. All five men detained under security certificates faced brutal release conditions. One even voluntarily returned to jail rather than put his family through the torment. Courts relaxed all of the conditions of detention significantly in 2009.
On DEC 9, 2010: A federal court judge ruled to uphold the 2nd security certificate against Mohamed Harkat, finding it “reasonable.” Justice Simon Noel found against Mr. Harkat and upheld the regime of secret hearings and judicially sanctioned rendition to torture.
What is a security certificate?
At the request of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the government of Canada can declare any permanent resident or refugee inadmissible to this country based on undisclosed grounds. CSIS can then arrest and hold the person indefinitely, for years, without charge. This is done under the power of a security certificate.
A security certificate detainee is given only a summary of allegations against him, and is denied access to anything CSIS wants kept secret. The CSIS-approved judge is shown some of the evidence behind closed doors, without a defence lawyer present.
The judge’s mandate is to rule on whether there were “reasonable grounds” to issue the security certificate. This conclusion is reached without cross examination. CSIS need only prove that there is a possibility, or a belief, that a person might do something that threatens national security, based on the individual’s actual, past or potential activities or associations. No actual crime need have been committed. The court can rule only on whether it is possible that the allegations are true.
Things Experienced by Mohamed Harka’s wife
Terry had an opportunity to interview Sophie Lamarche about her experience since her husband Mohamed Harkat, was deemed a threat to Canada and issued a security certificate. She told him about government camera’s in their home, no cell phones, no internet, facing deportation, etc. All on faulty information and secret trails. People should ask their selves is this a free country.
Below is an interview Terry Wilson did with Sophie Lamarche:
Supreme Court of Canada upheld CSIS Security Certificate 2014
An article published on CTV NEWS today by the Canadian Press reported that “On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the national security certificate against Harkat, unanimously ruling the process is consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”
Mohamed says he’s sure to face torture and death if returned to Algeria, given the high-profile accusations against him.
“The ultimate goal of (Wednesday), it’s shattered. That’s all 12 years of waiting for the highest court in the land to give me a fair and open trial to defend myself,” he told a news conference on Parliament Hill.
“So basically, what’s left now is the government of Canada wants to send me to Algeria. You’ll have to send me with a box. They’re going to torture me and bury me in it.”
The most sad thing about this is not only the fact that he has endured horrendous infringements upon his rights, but he came here as a refugee fleeing from his home country in hopes of having a better life here in Canada and now is most likely on the way back to the very country that he fleed from. Is this Canada’s face behind the mask?
Other articles you might be interested in:
- Mohamed Harkat Starts Supreme Court Challenge Against Security Certificates Today
- CSIS: Torture And Security Certificates
- Terrorist Prevention Or Thought Crime?
- Stop Secret Trials In Canada
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