Security certificate detainee Adil Charkaoui to speak in Fredericton
Tuesday, June 2 at 7:00 pm
Renaissance College, 811 Charlotte St.
* To arrange interviews with Mr. Charkaoui while he is in Fredericton, call: 506 458-0163 or email info [at] frederictonpeace.org
Adil Charkaoui, a Montreal teacher and father of three children, has been at the forefront of an important struggle for justice in Canada for over six years.
Arrested in 2003 under an immigration “security certificate”, Charkaoui spent two years in prison and four years under draconian conditions, pending a court hearing of his certificate which, to date, has never taken place. The interim conditions forced his mother or father to accompany him each time he left home, prevented him from using any phone except the one in his home, and imposed many other restrictions on him. All of that time, he has lived under the threat of deportation to Morocco, where Immigration Canada recognizes that he would be at risk of torture or death.
Charkaoui has never been charged with any crime nor had any trial whatsoever. Under the security certificate process, specific allegations and the information used against the detainee can be kept secret. In February 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the security certificate legislation was unconstitutional, but left the law in place until February 2008, when Parliament ratified almost identical new security certificate legislation.
In February 2009, the Federal Court finally lifted most of the interim conditions imposed on Charkaoui. However, Charkaoui is still forced to wear a GPS-tracking bracelet. He also continues to live under the label of “suspected terrorist” – which has cost him his job and much else – and under the threat of deportation to torture. Charkaoui thus continues his struggle to clear his name and achieve justice in Canada.
Charkaoui is among five men in Canada who are subject to security certificates. Over the coming months, some of their cases will be reviewed in Federal Court under the new, but no less unjust, security certificate legislation.
Background information about Charkaoui: www.adilinfo.org
This event is co-hosted by the Fredericton Peace Coalition and the Fredericton Islamic Association.
Posted: June 1st, 2009 under Canada, Immigrant/Refugee Rights, Secret Trials, Security Certificates.
Comment from Single Maria
Time June 1, 2009 at 11:24 am
Thanks for the post. You know, I have heard about it some days ago. But it is interesting for me who are other people which are subject to security certificates? Charkaoui is a good man, the father and the fighter. He could have done such things as clearing his name and achieving justice in Canada. I envy him