Max Halparin, The McGill Daily, January 26, 2009

After four days of public hearings in the federal case of Montrealer Adil Charkaoui last week, supporters of the Moroccan-born French teacher were confident that the lack of evidence against him could release the government’s control over him and his family.

Following the hearings Wednesday, Charkaoui was frustrated with the government’s failure to present a single witness throughout the hearings.

“They don’t do anything, [they] just sit back while we present all the evidence. But in the end they can present secret evidence to convince the judge I’m not innocent,” Charkaoui said.

Charkaoui’s lawyers brought Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Assistant Director of Intelligence Ted Flanigan to the stand Monday. He stated that Charkaoui fit the “profile of a sleeper agent,” despite being unable to define the term, and also acknowledged that a report describing Charkaoui as a sleeper agent was incorrect, according to a Federal Court Watch report of the day’s proceedings.

The Canadian Press, Jan. 27 2009

OTTAWA -- The committee that keeps an eye on the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has chastised the spy agency for breaking the rules in a probe of suspected extremists.

The Security Intelligence Review Committee's annual report says CSIS had a source gather information on possible homegrown radicals without proper authorization.

The review committee also urges improvements to help CSIS manage its growing activities abroad and to help shore up Canada's security policy after concerns arose about a major military project in North Bay, Ont.

In addition, it reiterated a call for the spy service to implement recommendations from a federal commission of inquiry into the case of Maher Arar, an Ottawa engineer who was tortured in a Syrian jail over false terrorism accusations.

The review committee, composed of civilian appointees, examines CSIS operations and handles complaints about the spy agency. The committee is expected to soon complete a review of the case of Omar Khadr, a Canadian being held by the U.S. in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for allegedly killing an American soldier in Afghanistan.

Irwin Block, The Montreal Gazette, 23 January 2009
 
Moroccan-born Adil Charkaoui is a "mainstream Muslim" who was unfairly profiled as a security risk and jailed without any evidence or charges, says Montreal imam Salam Elmenyawi.
 
"He is guilty by association, not by committing any act," Elmenyawi, chairperson of the Muslim Council of Montreal, told the Federal Court yesterday.
 
Elmenyawi was the last witness called by Charkaoui's lawyers in support of a motion to remove the most stringent conditions imposed as part of his house arrest after his release from detention in February 2005.
 
A chaplain at McGill and Concordia, Elmenyawi said Charkaoui "understands very well the damages the Muslim community has suffered from actions and violence in the name of Islam."
 
He recalled Charkaoui expressed "outrage" when the Talmud Torah schools library in St. Laurent was firebombed and denounced the London bus bombings and alleged Toronto terror plot.
 

Sue Montgomery, Montreal Gazette, 16 January 2009

Charkaoui was arrested by the Canadian government under a security certificate six years ago. He has been wearing an ankle bracelet monitor for the past four years and is not allowed to go anywhere without one of his parents.

To view slide show with audio narrative: CLICK HERE.

Sue Montgomery, The Gazette, 17 January 2009

Adil Charkaoui nears the four-year mark of living under virtual house arrest without being charged with any crime

At 7 on a minus-30C morning, Adil Charkaoui descends the steps of his Anjou duplex with his 5-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter in tow. He has three things in his hands: a coffee, La Presse and a GPS tracking system allowing Canadian authorities to monitor every move he makes throughout his day.

But before he's allowed to back out of his driveway, Charkaoui, 35, must have two more things: a green light on the walkie-talkie-like GPS - signaling that Canada Border Services Agency is awake and watching - and his dad.

From the Human Rights desk of the Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns (Montréal), Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The Centre d’appui aux Philippines / Center for Philippine Concerns (CAP-CPC) views with alarm the unfolding events surrounding the trial of Adil Charkaoui in Canada.

On December 9, in Montreal, Adil Charkaoui will go to trial again, even though it was just revealed that the spy agency CSIS has not yet given anyone - not even the judge - evidence to support its opinions about Adil. In addition, the hearings will take place under a judge, that Charkaoui's lawyers have already argued, should withdraw from the case on the grounds of bias. (More info: www.adilinfo.org/en/node/483).

The Charkaouis have been struggling for very basic rights for more than five years now - against racial profiling, secret trials, torture, arbitrary detention - in what feels like a treadmill of injustice. The endless court proceedings completely banalize the injustices, humiliations, threat of violence and intrusive state control Adil and the rest of his family are subject to on a daily basis.

January 02, 2009, Michelle Shephard, Toronto Star

The last remaining terrorism suspect (sic) who has been held for seven years under a "national security certificate" has been ordered released from detention.

Federal court Justice Richard Mosley ruled Friday that there is no evidence that Syrian Hassan Almrei "poses a threat to the safety of any individual" and should be released under strict conditions.

"I am satisfied that any risk that he might pose to national security or of absconding can be neutralized by conditions," Mosley wrote in his 100-page ruling.

Conditions for his release will likely include 24-hour monitoring by agents with the Canada Border Services Agency, wearing a GPS monitoring bracelet and a ban on any use of cellphones or computers.

"Hassan was very, very happy – very pleased," said his lawyer Lorne Waldman after speaking with Almrei by phone. "Personally, I'm delighted. Holding someone in Canada without charge, without trial, is a very serious matter and I'm relieved that this detention will end soon."

By Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press, December 18, 2008

TORONTO - Lawyers defending terrorism suspects expressed outrage Thursday that Canada's spy agency has been listening in on their telephone conversations with their clients.

Court documents show the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has been monitoring the calls to ensure the suspects don't breach stringent bail conditions. "I was flabbergasted when I was informed," said Matt Webber, an Ottawa lawyer for Mohamed Harkat, a suspected Algerian terrorist released from custody in May 2006.

"My client's consent never for a moment contemplated the invasion of solicitor-client privilege."

Federal Court Judge Carolyn Layden-Stevenson publicly released information about the wiretapping in a Toronto court Thursday.

"The CSIS analyst ... listens to all intercepted communications, including solicitor-client communications if any," Layden-Stevenson wrote.

Her summary pertains to phone tapping that occurred in the case of Mohammad Mahjoub, an Egyptian detained as a threat to public safety because of his alleged ties to al-Qaida.

We have made a 2009 wall calendar that we are selling to raise money for the coalition.

This french (only) calendar is 32 full-colour pages of photos and art. We are selling the calendars for 15$. Besides being a donation to a great cause, these calendars make a nice gift for friends and family!

This calendar is not only a visual record of events we have organized, it also provides the history of the campaign, information about what the coalition does and is fighting against. It's a good way to share this information with your family, co-workers and friends. Besides being a means to fundraise, this calendar is an educational tool.

TO ORDER, email us at justiceforadil@riseup.net with the number of calendars you want. Specify your full mailing address OR, if you live in Montreal, let us know and we will make arrangements for in-person pick-up. (Note: Please let us know if you want us to send by overnight mail; we'll ask you to cover the costs.)

Please support us in this fundraising campaign. We hope you enjoy the calendar.

Sue Montgomery, Montreal Gazette, December 15, 2008

MONTREAL - Canada's spy agency doesn't verify whether information it receives has been obtained through torture or other human rights violations, even if it comes from the notorious American prison in Guantanamo Bay, an agent for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service revealed Monday.

The agent, known only as Jean-Paul to protect his identity, was testifying at the public portion of hearings to determine whether the security certificate under which Adil Charkaoui has been living for almost six years is reasonable.

If Federal Court Judge Daniele Tremblay-Lamer decides it is, the father of three and permanent resident would be immediately deported to Morocco, the country from which he emigrated in 1995.

The agent said that all information received by CSIS is evaluated and corroborated, but that the agency doesn't always know the conditions under which a source is being detained nor how the interrogation is conducted.

"We're not paid to find out what the conditions are of someone being held in another country," he said. "There is no formal structure for finding out about torture."