Canada's inhuman wrongs on International Human Rights Day.
security certificates
Mohamed Harkat barred from attending dinner in his honour
Montreal, 3 February 2011 -- A community dinner in Montreal in support of Mohamed Harkat, who is engaged in an eight-year battle against deportation to torture on the basis of secret accusations, will have to go ahead without its guest of honour. Harkat learned late last week that the Canadian Border Services Agency refused his request to attend the dinner, organized as the closing event of a Montreal conference on national security.
CBSA, which is in charge of enforcing the strict bail conditions imposed on Harkat, stated that he could not attend because of the "the nature of the proposed event, its anticipated participants, as well as its venue." The event, a free vegetarian dinner, will take place at Concordia University.
Mohamed Harkat condemned by a secret system of 'justice'
It was ironic that on International Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, family, friends, and supporters of secret trial detainee Mohamed Harkat gathered with him and his wife, Sophie, to weep and reflect on three federal court decisions against him. The latest decision upheld the regime of secret hearings and judicially sanctioned rendition to torture; and Harkat's supporter's recommitted to ending what domestic and international critics have labelled a star chamber process.
Due to a system based on secret allegations that neither accused nor lawyers can contest, Harkat has, for eight years, been subject to a "security certificate," a measure by which individuals can be detained, held indefinitely without charge, and ultimately be deported, despite the risk of torture.
CBSA raids Jaballah family home, seizes three children's toys
TORONTO, May 11, 2010 - In yet another blow aimed at the morale of the beleaguered family of secret security certificate trial detainee Mahmoud Jaballah, three carloads of agents from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), assisted by Metro Toronto Police, conducted a raid on the Jaballah family residence on April 14 on the pretext of looking for the two youngest boys' clear plastic toy guns, commonly played with by children across Canada and readily accessible at most Walmarts, Canadian Tires, and dollar stores.
Apparently, agents who conduct 24/7 wiretaps of the family phone learned about the toy guns while listening in on the children's telephone conversations, and immediately sprung into action in the name of Canada's national security.
The sad anniversary and shameful legacy of Guantánamo
Last week marked the 10th anniversary of the creation of the infamous Guantánamo Bay. This place created by G. W. Bush but still in existence today under the presidency of Barack Obama is a symbol of of blatant human rights injustice and human rights violations.
The first flashbacks that come to our minds when we speak of Guantánamo Bay are of chained and shackled detainees, wearing orange jumpsuits, their heads bent down, transported in cages like ferocious animals.
Security certificate injustice for Mohamed Harkat: Nine years on
Think back to December 10, 2002 -- nine years ago this weekend, International Human Rights Day.
Perhaps on that day you were aware of the human rights significance, and perhaps not. But more importantly, what were you doing with your life back then? Were you in a different job? A different city? Perhaps in the interim you earned a post-secondary degree or diploma, or possibly more than one. How many job interviews did you attend in those nine years? How much money have you earned? Did you have children? Did you visit relatives in another province? Perhaps take a honeymoon? Travel abroad?
Mohamed Harkat solidarity rally
Dec 10 2011 - 12:00pm
Dec 10 2011 - 3:00pm
Location
Human Rights Monument
Corner of Elgin and Lisgar
Ottawa, ON Canada
45° 25' 9.0156" N, 75° 41' 29.6448" W
See map: Google Maps
Dec. 10 will mark the 9th anniversary of Mohamed Harkat's arrest under a so-called security certificate. Nine years of arbitrary and indefinite detention, secret evidence, baseless public allegations and threat of deportation to torture (refoulement) under an unconstitutional law. It's also International Human Rights Day, the 63rd anniversary of the day that the UN endorsed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, many of whose principles are volated by the security certificate process.
The Harkat committee asks all of its supporters to come out to show their continued solidarity with Mohamed Harkat and their strong opposition to security certificates and all the injustices they represent.
