Security Certificate 5 Five muslim men are currently being held What We Want How You Can Help under Security Certificates in Canada. Since December of 2002 the Justice This man According to Amnesty International, all of for Mohamed Harkat Committee Contact Prime Minister Stephen their lives are at risk if deported from Canada has been insisting that the Canadian Harper, the ministers, individuals is facing government and the general public listed below, and your local MP: deportation Mohammad Mahjoub recognize that the Security Certificate % House of Commons Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6 • An agricultural engineer process is undemocratic and violates who fled torture in Egypt. (no postage necessary to M.P.’s) to torture Married with three children. fundamental human rights, while not Right Hon. Stephen Harper Held since June 2000, he enhancing the security of Canadians. Office of the Prime Minister acquired Hepatitis C in jail Accordingly, we demand that email: [email protected] Ph: (613) 996-6740 Fax: (613) 947-0310 the Security Certificate process be The Hon. Stockwell Day Mahmoud Jaballah abolished. Minister of Public Safety & Emergency • married, with six children. For those currently imprisoned Preparedness email: [email protected] Held since August 2001. Ph: (613) 995-1702 Fax: (613) 995-1154 under security certificates, we demand: He “won” against a prior The Hon. Diane Finley security certificate, a new one • That they be released Citizenship & Immigration Canada was signed despite a lack of immediately; or, if any case email: [email protected] any new evidence against them actually exists, Ph: (613) 996-4974 Fax: 613) 996-9749 that they be allowed to defend The Hon. Robert Douglas Nicholson Minister of Justice & Attorney General Hassan Almrei themselves in open, fair and email: [email protected] Released on • A poet, he ran a small independent trials with full Ph: (613) 995-1547 Fax: (613) 992-7910 import shop in Saudi Arabia. bail after 3.5 Held since October 2001, he disclosure of the case against Educate people you know years in prison, spent over 4 years in solitary them. about security certificates Mohamed Harkat confinement. and encourage them to is now under • That they not be deported to take action. virtual house countries where they may be arrest awaiting a Mohamed Harkat Join the Justice for Mohamed •see other side for more jailed, tortured or killed. decision from the information about Mohamed Harkat emergency contact list. Supreme Court Sign our statement To be informed of last-minute events forward your phone numbers or email to: against secret trials [email protected] Visit www.nowar-paix.ca/harkat Adil Charkaoui to add your name Donate Justice for Mohamed • married, with three Funds for legal support are badly needed! Harkat Committee children, held from May Please make cheques payable to: 2003 to February 2005. Like What if it were you or www.zerra.net/freemohamed Mohamed Harkat, he was Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee [email protected] released with severe bail someone you love...? 22 Rue Dalpé apt. 6 Gatineau QC J8Y 2Y5 conditions What is a Security Certificate? In the name of “National Security” Mohamed’s Story the Security Certificate violates all the • At the request of the Canadian fundamental principles of justice. Mohamed Harkat has been in Canada Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), since 1995. In 1997, he was given refugee the government of Canada can declare It violates the Canadian Charter of Rights Constitutionality of status after successfully claiming government any permanent resident, non-citizen of and Freedoms, the Constitution, the UN persecution if he were to return to Algeria. Security Certificates: Canada, inadmissable to this country Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the On December 10, 2002, Mohamed was Supreme Court Decision based on undisclosed grounds. CSIS then UN Convention on Refugees, the Inter- arrested by undercover police outside his national Covenant on Civil and Political home in Ottawa. He spent one year of his has that person arrested. They can hold Rights and the UN Convention on Torture. 3 1⁄2 year detention in solitary confinement. the accused indefinitely, without charge. In June of 2006 the legal teams of three He was released on bail on June 21, 2006, The Security Certificate is also completely of the Security Certificate detainees, • The detained person’s lawyer is given with the strictest conditions in Canadian contrary to the Canadian justice system, including Mohamed Harkat, argued in only a summary of allegations, and is history: because the accused cannot even have a the Supreme Court that the Security denied access to evidence that CSIS • He must wear a GPS monitoring device lawyer review the evidence against him; Certificate process is unconstitutional, at all times to track his movements both wants kept secret for national security with no access to the evidence, there can be based on: inside and outside his residence. reasons. The CSIS-approved judge is no defence made, and no access to justice. • He must be under 24 hour supervision by presented with some of the evidence • Lack of access to the evidence, either his wife, Sophie Harkat; his mother-in- behind closed doors, without a defence and therefore an abrogation of law, or her partner. lawyer being present. • All outings (a maximum of four hours international law long, three times per week) must be approved • The judge’s mandate is to rule on • Lack of fairness in different 48 hours in advance by the Canadian Border whether there were “reasonable grounds” standards of rights (depending on citizenship status) Services Agency (CBSA). Two of their to issue the security certificate. This officers follow them at all times. conclusion is reached without cross • Conditions of detention • All visitors to the Harkat residence must examination and no appeal. be pre-approved by the CBSA. The Supreme Court also heard • All mail is intercepted and telephone • CSIS need only prove that there is interventions against the Security conversations are monitored. a possibility, or a belief, that a person No Deportations. Certificates from dozens of human • No wireless devices are allowed in the might do something that threatens rights and legal organizations including residence; He is prohibited from using a national security, based on the It is well established in international law Amnesty International and the Law computer. individual’s actual, past or potential that no deportations should take place to Union of Ontario. Mohamed’s release coincided with the activities or associations. No actual countries where there is risk of death or discovery of evidence that the informant torture. In the case of Algeria, the country who triggered his arrest, Abu Zabaydah, was crime need have been committed. The The arguments in favour of the process to which the government is trying to considered certifiably insane in the view of court can rule only on whether it is were made by lawyers for the federal possible that the allegations are true. deport Mohamed Harkat, recent Amnesty American intelligence officials, and he may International statements and reports are and Ontario governments. have given information while being tortured. • If the judge upholds the Certificate, the clear that the risk of torture is high. Similar CSIS alleges that Mohamed has been, is, detainee automatically faces immediate risks are documented for Egypt, Syria and A decision of the Supreme Court is or will be involved with terrorism. Mohamed deportation. The decision is final and no Morocco. Diplomatic assurances are no expected in March of 2007. denies any involvement with any terrorist appeal is permitted. safeguard against torture. organizations..
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