Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui, 25 August 2003

On Monday, 25 August in Ottawa a Peaceful march was held to draw attention to the case of five Muslim men currently being detained in Canada under security certificates and secret evidence with allegations they constitute a threat to Canada's national security.

The march was organized, in co-operation of the five families, by the Toronto based "Campaign To End Secret Evidence," and "Homes Not Bombs"

This was the first time that the families and supporters of five men, who are currently being held under security certificates, came together to demand an end to security certificates and the use of secret evidence.

Security certificates allow the CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) to detain, without charges, any landed immigrants or foreign national judged to be a threat to Canadian security, and to fast track deportation proceedings against the accused. Note that the subject of the security certificate does not have to be guilty of ANY crime, but only found guilty of suspicion of being a threat under the rules regarding security certificates. In addition, the person is not allowed to see the full evidence the state his against him/her.

Five people currently held on a CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) "security certificate" include Mohammad Mahjoub (since June, 2000), Mahmoud Jaballah (held since Aug. 14, 2001), Hassan Almrei (Oct. 2001), Mohamed Harkat (Dec. 2002) and Adil Charkaoui (May 2003). Most of their prison time has been in solitary confinement (except for Adil Charkaoui).

Critics say that the whole process violates the person's right to a public and transparent trial, the opportunity to face the accuser is denied, the opportunity to test the validity of the evidence against him is denied, there is no presumption of innocence as guaranteed in the charter of rights and freedoms, the right to not be detained without charges is denied, and the right of due process and fundamental justice is stripped away....

Monday's march began at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa, proceeded to Immigration Canada, continued to the Supreme Court, and ended up at the Prime Minister's office, where the friends and families of the detainees presented petitions and appeals for clemency to the Prime Minister.

It should be noted that the issue of concern for those protesting on Monday was not about the guilt or innocence of the detainees, even though they say they are innocent, but about a flawed process, the demand for fundamental justice for all Canadians, and more specifically for Muslims and Arabs since they are the majority of those being targeted with security certificates.

According to the organizers, Monday's event was a huge success as the five families were able to come together face to face, develop human bonds and for the first combine their efforts of seeing their loved ones released and bring about the abolishment of security certificates.

Finally, the families are very happy to receive any support they can get, and are encouraged with any statements of actions or solidarity.