Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui, 21 September 2007

Federal Court hearings
Monday, 24 September, from 9:30am
Federal Court, 30 McGill St., Montreal

More information, interviews: cell 514 222 0205

In June, the Montreal daily La Presse published leaked top secret information, containing unproven, sensational allegations against Adil Charkaoui. Mr. Charkaoui categorically denied the allegations and asked for a public inquiry into the actions of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in his file.

On 29 June, CSIS announced that it had begun an internal investigation into the criminal leak and that it had asked the RCMP to open a police investigation. Almost three months later, there has been no further news of either investigation.

Charkaoui will be in court on 24 September to argue that this criminal leak of information constitutes a violation of his charter rights and an abuse of procedure. Me. Johanne Doyon, his lawyer, will argue that the unconstitutional “security certificate” proceedings against him should be halted on that basis.

In a separate motion heard last month, Me. Dominique Larochelle, his other lawyer, argued that the conditions imposed on him should be lifted in view of the February 2007 Supreme Court ruling that the security certificate process is unconstitutional. A decision is pending.

The Supreme Court ruling did not put an end to the ordeal for Charkaoui, his family, and others subject to the security certificate process. The 34-year old Montrealer, who was arrested in May 2003 under a security certificate, is still living under severe restrictions on his liberty, on the basis of unproven, secret suspicions compiled by CSIS. Three men in Ontario are held under house arrest, and a fifth, Hassan Almrei, is isolated in Canada’s infamous “guantanamo north” in Kingston, Ontario. All remain under threat of deportation, despite the recognized illegality of the process and the acknowledged risk of torture.

Proponents of equality are gearing up for a renewed battle this fall, as the Conservative government plans to respond to the Supreme Court decision by introducing new secret trial legislation for non-citizens. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear a second challenge by Charkaoui in January 2008, relating to the destruction of evidence in his file by CSIS.

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