Vol. 80/No. 4 February 1, 2016
Fight grows in Canada to stop refugee’s deportation
In December the committee announced a campaign to get 1,000 letters demanding that newly elected Liberal Party Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stop the deportation procedures against Harkat. The Algerian refugee, who has lived in Canada for 20 years, was targeted for deportation by the outgoing Conservative Party government of Stephen Harper last August. Amnesty International Canada says Harkat faces possible torture and death if sent back to Algeria.
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in May 2014 that the federal government can use secret evidence never tested in court to deport permanent residents and other noncitizens declared a threat to “national security” or suspected of criminal activity.
Harkat came to Canada in 1995 and lives in Ottawa. He was granted refugee status in 1997 and worked as a pizza delivery driver and gas station attendant. Under the country’s “security certificate” laws, he was arrested in 2002 and spent four years in jail after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service accused him of being an al-Qaeda “sleeper agent.” Harkat, who denies the charges, has been living under various forms of house arrest since 2006.
Over the years Harkat’s case has become a cause célèbre. His fight has gone twice to the Supreme Court of Canada, forcing the federal government to make minor adjustments in 2008 to the security certificate laws. More than 6,000 people and organizations have signed a statement against the government’s use of these certificates, including the Canadian Labor Congress and dozens of major unions.
Sophie Harkat described how people would stop her husband in the street to wish him good luck, not knowing that his probation conditions prohibit him from addressing a person not previously approved by the Canadian Border Service Agency, which monitors his probation.
“Mohamed is now a prominent figure, he has respected all his probation conditions over the years and even the Canadian Security Intelligence Service says he is less a threat than they thought initially,” she said.
Security certificates issued against people “who were not threats and never engaged in or supported violence” have been dropped in the past, Barbara Jackman, Harkat’s lead counsel, wrote to the meeting.
“This effort is in the front line in Canada of protests against attacks on Muslims and mosques,” John Steele told the forum on behalf of the Communist League.
Information on the fight can be found at http://www.justiceforharkat.com/news.php. Messages of support and donations can be sent as well.
Related articles:
Washington pursues deal with Tehran, Moscow
Seeks stability for imperialist interests in Mideast
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home