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Vol. 72/No. 18      May 5, 2008

 
‘Terrorist’ frame-up unravels in Toronto
 
BY JOHN STEELE  
TORONTO—The suspension of criminal charges against four adults accused of belonging to an al-Qaeda inspired terror cell marked a further unraveling of the government’s case against the so-called Toronto 18. These are 14 Muslim men and four youths arrested in June 2006 in a cop sting operation that received headlines around the world.

The arrests marked the first time alleged terrorists were charged in Canada using criminal laws implemented after the 9/11 attacks. Under a court-imposed ban on the publication of the judicial proceedings, the media published sensational stories of the defendants’ alleged plans to storm Parliament Hill in Ottawa, take politicians hostage, and behead the prime minister.

The alleged terrorist cell was reported to have held an armed training camp in the countryside north of Toronto, and to have plotted to use truck bombs to blow up the Toronto Stock Exchange and the offices of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

“I am innocent. I have nothing to do with this terrorism thing,” said former bus driver Abdul Qayyum Jamal outside the courthouse after winning a stay of the charges. He told reporters that he attended a winter camp where he played paintball. “Everybody is allowed to do that,” he said.

Jamal, who spent 13 of his 17 months in solitary confinement, was depicted as an Islamic firebrand and ring leader of the “terrorist cell” because he was older than the rest of those picked up in the police sweep. This view was reinforced when then Liberal Member of Parliament Wajid Khan told reporters he once heard Jamal at a mosque badmouthing Canada’s troops in Afghanistan. Jamal was a caretaker at the Al-Rahman Islamic Centre.

Three of the four defendants, including Jamal, were forced to sign peace bonds in order to win their stay of charges. While no wrong-doing is admitted, they face strict conditions for a year because the court says there are grounds to believe they could commit a “terror-related” offense. They are forbidden from associating with the other accused, must abide by a curfew, and surrender their passports.

The government can reinstitute the charges within the year. However, if Jamal and the others remain on good behavior and obey their curfews for this period the charges could be dropped.

In February and July of 2007 the charges against three of the four arrested youths were suspended. This leaves 10 adults and one youth still facing trial. The adults remain in jail. At least two are in solitary confinement where they have been since their arrests.  
 
 
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