Coalition calls for public inquiry into second leak

Montreal, 10 August 2011 -- The Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui is outraged by the leak of a secret document containing completely false allegations against Montrealer Adil Charkaoui, whose security certificate case was struck down in 2009. Noting that an almost identical leak happened in 2007, the Coalition is calling for a public inquiry and asking other Canadians to join it in challenging Minister Jason Kenney's unacceptable comments.

"These allegations are false and constitute a wholly unmerited attack on my reputation and my security," said Mr. Charkaoui. "I spent six years of my life proving my innocence in a secret court process when I didn't even know what I was accused of. After the federal court revoked the security certificate against me, I expressed the hope that I wouldn't spend the rest of my life as an 'ex-suspected'. Now, almost two years after the court cleared my name, I find myself again in the court of public opinion. This must stop."

Montreal, 12 March 2010 – Adil Charkaoui’s fight to clear his name brought him twice to the Supreme Court before he finally won his case in 2009. Now, almost seven years after Mr. Charkaoui was originally arrested in Montreal under a “security certificate” he is taking steps to obtain the apology he needs to finally put his life back on track.

In December, Mr.Charkaoui’s lawyers put the government on notice, asking for an apology, citizenship and reasonable reparation for Mr. Charkaoui. Failing to get a response, the legal team, which includes security certificate veteran Johanne Doyon, submitted a formal application aimed at holding government officials accountable.

“This is about accountability. This is about restoring my good name. This is about reparation for an injustice,” said the 36 year-old French teacher and father of four from his home in Montreal. “If our officials aren’t held to account, what else will they be able to get away with?”

“They destroyed his reputation, and not only in Canada. As Federal Court Justice Simon Noel recognized, CSIS sent false intelligence reports about him around the world.” said Mary Foster of the Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui. “He needs an apology from the government in order to begin to repair this damage.”

Press Conference
Tuesday, 29 September 2009, 11am
Charles Lynch Room, Centre Block, Parliament, Ottawa

Confirmed speakers:
Mr. Adil Charkaoui
Mr. Salam Elmenyawi, President, Muslim Council of Montreal
Ms. Monia Mazigh, human rights activist
Mr. Bill Siksay, MP (Burnaby Douglas, NDP)
Mr. Thierry St-Cyr, Porte-parole de Bloc, Citoyenneté et immigration

Mr. Adil Charkaoui, joined by several human rights organizations and members of opposition parties, will respond to last Thursday's Federal Court decision to remove all of the remaining conditions imposed on him under a security certificate.

On Wednesday, a secret hearing will take place between the judge, the federal government lawyers and the special advocates. Following the secret hearing - from which Adil Charkaoui, his lawyers, and the public will be excluded - the judge has promised to throw out the certificate and decide whether to grant the government leave to appeal.

Judge to decide in September whether to quash certificate or order Ministers to withdraw it

Read court directive here: page 1; page 2; page 3; page 4.

The Federal government has admitted that there is insufficient evidence in Adil Charkaoui’s file to uphold the security certificate against him. The startling admission was filed with the Federal Court on July 31st.

In a directive issued on August 5th, Federal Court Justice Tremblay-Lamer, who is presiding in the case, wrote that, “in light of the admission by the Ministers that the evidence is insufficient to meet their burden of proof,” she will consider whether she should quash the certificate or order the Ministers to revoke it themselves on her return from holidays, in early September.

Montreal, 18 September 2008 - The Supreme Court announced today that it will not consider the question of whether it is legal for Canada to deport someone who is recognized to be at risk of torture.

Me. Johanne Doyon, Adil Charkaoui’s lawyer, asked the Supreme Court in April 2007 to consider the constitutionality of the law allowing the Minister of Immigration to balance the alleged risks in national security cases and to deport non-citizens to death and torture.

“I am saddened that the Supreme Court has not taken the opportunity to consider this important question and give the Conservative government a clear directive about the absolute ban on deportation to torture. There is a frightening trend. There are growing numbers of both non-citizens and citizens whom Canada has failed to protect from torture, from Sogi Singh to Maher Arar and more,” said Adil Charkaoui, a Montreal-based teacher and father of three. Charkaoui was first arrested under the much-contested security certificate – a deportation procedure established by Canadian immigration law - in May 2003.

Friday May 23, 2008, 12-7pm
Parc de la Place de la Gare Jean Talon

Media Advisory

JUSTICE FOR ADIL CONTINGENT
in the Status for All! March

Sunday, 4 May 2008, 12:30pm
corner of Victoria and Van Horne (metro Plamondon, Van Horne exit)

Justice for Adil contingent will march under the banner "Solidarity is our Security!"

The Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui will form a contingent against racist immigration 'security' measures on Sunday, 4 May in the Solidarity Across Borders "Status for All!" march.

The recent introduction of the "special advocate" into the security certificate process has only served to legitimize an unjust, two-tier system based on racial profiling and to open the door to a greater use of secrecy in other areas of immigration and criminal law.

February 27, 2008

Chief Justice Allan Lutfy,
Federal Court of Canada
Ottawa, ON

Dear Chief Justice Lutfy,

We are writing with the profoundest of concerns about the unprecedented placement on the front page of the Federal Court website of the public summaries of the security intelligence reports with respect to the five men subject to security certificate.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Press Conference
Thursday, 28 February, 4:30pm
Aide juridique de Montréal, 800 de Maisonneuve Blvd., East, 9th floor

In the presence of his lawyers, Me. Johanne Doyon and Me. Dominique Larochelle, Adil Charkaoui will respond to the new security certificate law and the new certificate that has been issued against him.

Background

Mr. Charkaoui has lived in Montreal since 1995, when he arrived in Canada with his mother, father and sister as a permanent resident. Charkaoui is married, with three young children, and teaches French in a primary school.