maher arar

[beechy]

Anyone else sick of seeing this guys face in the news?

Read today that he wants 37 million in compensation from the government for his troubles......This seems a bit steep considering he is a dual citizen (Canadian and Syrian) living in the US, who was deported by the US back to syria. So canadians owe him for what? giving over his info to people who were suspect of him. I think not, considering Syria's history.

NO doubt his story is a sad one. But is it more so then That of Steven Truscott ($0 for ten years in prison) or David Milgaard (Ten million for 23 years). Both these men's lives were ruined by the Canadian police.

Maybe i am missing something but there must be other news out there.

[the_professor]

Anyone else sick of seeing this guys face in the news?

Read today that he wants 37 million in compensation from the government for his troubles......This seems a bit steep considering he is a dual citizen (Canadian and Syrian) living in the US, who was deported by the US back to syria. So canadians owe him for what? giving over his info to people who were suspect of him. I think not, considering Syria's history.

NO doubt his story is a sad one. But is it more so then That of Steven Truscott ($0 for ten years in prison) or David Milgaard (Ten million for 23 years). Both these men's lives were ruined by the Canadian police.

Maybe i am missing something but there must be other news out there.

We wouldn't have to see his face on the news if the RCMP weren't a bunch of f**k-ups who tried to destroy his life and his reputation.

Next you'll be hearing a lot more from the three guys who are the subject of a just-declared commission regarding how they ended up in prisons in Syria and Egypt, and what role the RCMP had in those cases.

I am glad that it sounds as though the RCMP are finally going to get a babysitter with some teeth, as per today's report from Judge O'Connor.

Babies and amateurs need babysitters.

[niss]

It dosn't matter that the RCMP had him deported. He was sent to his home country. Lets not forget who actually tortured him.

[still_bluenoser]

Yea. I'd rather not see it here either.

[RVR6000]

Anyone else sick of seeing this guys face in the news?

Read today that he wants 37 million in compensation from the government for his troubles......This seems a bit steep considering he is a dual citizen (Canadian and Syrian) living in the US, who was deported by the US back to syria. So canadians owe him for what? giving over his info to people who were suspect of him. I think not, considering Syria's history.

NO doubt his story is a sad one. But is it more so then That of Steven Truscott ($0 for ten years in prison) or David Milgaard (Ten million for 23 years). Both these men's lives were ruined by the Canadian police.

Maybe i am missing something but there must be other news out there.

Those 2 men didn't get torture for 1 year. Btw isn't he asking compensation from the US and not the Canadian government.

[beechy]

being in prison at 14 isn't torture? being in jail for 10 years when you're innocent isn't torture? Being put in prison for 23 years because the cops had it out for you isn't torture? living the rest of your life and raising a family under different names isn't torture? I guess you have never had to do that and have never been to prison. I haven't either, but i imagine it would be up there with torture.

And it seems the US isn't giving him anything so now he is looking to Canada. He should ask syria, but i guess they would just laugh in his face.

[Driving Rain]

Those 2 men didn't get torture for 1 year.

What?
David Milguard was raped and beaten numerous times.
Steven Truscott was the youngest person sentenced to death in the 20th century in Canada. You don't think being locked up at 14 years of age placed on death row (which was solitary confinement in those days) and having the threat of death hanging over you is torture? These two men lived in absolute agony for many years.
Perhaps you don't think water is wet!

[the original tony]

i believe that all these men and anyone the justice system has wronged should get what they deserve.
in a country where a hot cup of coffee gets you millions.
use your better judgement folks, people are still in litigation for the air france crash, not one death, but hundreds of millions in law suits. do they deserve compensation, to some extent yes, but so does the guy that was brown and called a terrorist for being from syria. and the same for the poor ill accused men in jail for no reason.
In my opinion he should be all over the news, maybe people will start to trust others not so much by the look, but by the character. oh, don`t look at the cops the wrong way.........you may be next.
Now, i wait patiently to see if the war crimes will ever come about for the 3 fuckateers in washington. when bush, rumsfeld and cheney are all hanging, i will die a happy man. and i guess most of the world too will follow suit.

the original tony

[2R]

First point the RCMP did not deport him.
Second point - He Was deported by Americans on American Intelligence recommendation as a threat to America.
Third point - The Americans refuse to disclose or compromise their Intel
Fouth Point - He was held in Syria Beyond the Juristiction of the RCMP
Fifth Point - How long do you think he will be allowed to live in North America after The RCMP Disclosed that he was a Person of Interest and that they had twenty five thousand documents about him.

The KGB Trained The SYRIANS well ,They Have taken down the RCMP without firing a shot.

[Chantal]

Holy Smokes!!

[looproll]

Thanks for the insightful comment, Chantal.

oh, don`t look at the cops the wrong way.........you may be next.

George Orwell's fictitious 1984 is becoming reality! You will change your tune when they come for you.

[altiplano]

It dosn't matter that the RCMP had him deported. He was sent to his home country. Lets not forget who actually tortured him.

C'mon niss - he was trying to board a plane to Canada - his home country - where he lives - he's a Canadian...

But yeah I'm a little sick of it even though I think it's a travesty that our gov would support a Canadian being deported anywhere but Canada - unless there is a case to strip him of citizenship first...

[niss]

Maher Arar (Arabic: ماهر عرار‎; born 1970 in Syria) is a Canadian software engineer. On September 26, 2002, during a stopover in New York en route from Tunis to Montreal, Arar was detained by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service who may have been acting upon false and misleading information supplied by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police[1] . Despite carrying a Canadian passport, he was deported to Syria in accordance with a U.S. policy known as "extraordinary rendition."[2] Arar was held in solitary confinement in a Syrian prison where he was regularly tortured for almost a year, until his eventual release and return to Canada in October 2003.[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maher_Arar

Born in Syria, deported by US to Syria due to false/misleading info from Canada, and tortured by Syria in Syria. The RCMP didnt deport him or torture him.

I want to know why he isnt in Syria lobying against torture, or the US for changing the deportation laws.... probably because he can get farther complaining about the RCMP and the Canadian Gvn't?

[altiplano]

Maher Arar (Arabic: ماهر عرار‎; born 1970 in Syria) is a Canadian software engineer. On September 26, 2002, during a stopover in New York en route from Tunis to Montreal, Arar was detained by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service who may have been acting upon false and misleading information supplied by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police[1] . Despite carrying a Canadian passport, he was deported to Syria in accordance with a U.S. policy known as "extraordinary rendition."[2] Arar was held in solitary confinement in a Syrian prison where he was regularly tortured for almost a year, until his eventual release and return to Canada in October 2003.[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maher_Arar

Born in Syria, deported by US to Syria due to false/misleading info from Canada, and tortured by Syria in Syria. The RCMP didnt deport him or torture him.

I want to know why he isnt in Syria lobying against torture, or the US for changing the deportation laws.... probably because he can get farther complaining about the RCMP and the Canadian Gvn't?

Is that a response to me niss?

I'm sure he can get farther here than there. And he should shouldn't he? Where he was born is irrelevant, he is a CANADIAN CITIZEN and has the same expectation of support from the Canadian gov as I do. The RCMP didn't deport him but they didn't support him either... I think the CDN gov should be after the US for this aswell...

[niss]

Canada is definately in the wrong, but the RCMP are guilty of the least of the crimes and are being dragged through the mud for it. You would think by the way its in the papers and on the news that the RCMP did the toe nail pulling.

[Chantal]

niss, that's called Freedom of Speech in Canada.

Another point to remember is Maher Arar was deported to Syria because he is a Syrian citizen. Apparently, it was his choice to have dual-citizenship and all people with dual citizenship face the same dilemma. So come to think about it, he isn't the same as an average Canadian citizen.

[the_professor]

It dosn't matter that the RCMP had him deported. He was sent to his home country. Lets not forget who actually tortured him.

O'Connor found that he was likely deported based on the information the RCMP provided (and then refused to recant) to the Americans. That is as good as having him deported, in the same legal sense that in hiring a hitman, you can be found equally guilty of murder.

There are lots of schmucks in the RCMP.

[the_professor]

Second point - He Was deported by Americans on American Intelligence recommendation as a threat to America.

No, you are incorrect. Read O'Connor's report. It is online, not to mention it was widely reported in the news.

[altiplano]

There are lots of schmucks in the RCMP.

HERE HERE!!!

I've been having problems with those schmucks since they were taking away my beer at field parties in high school...

HAHA jokes on you jack asses now I can drink whenever I want!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny clothes boot wearin pricks - go ride a horse or I'm gonna mount you mountie!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA

[2R]

Well prof i do not have instant reply on what was said at the news conference but that was the jist of what was said. He is still on the American watch list based on american intel.

If he was smart he would get out of North America while the getting is good .But he won't he will stir up as much anti-american shit as he can and his "friends" will continue to pick up and report back to their political masters in Syria.

There is a significant difference between Inteligence used by intelligence agencies and Evidence used by courts for convictions.
If it walks like a duck it usually is a duck.Although not many have seen a duck fart.

He is doing something that the declared enemies of Canada cannot do.

[the_professor]

But he won't he will stir up as much anti-american shit as he can and his "friends" will continue to pick up and report back to their political masters in Syria.

He's not stirring up anti-Americanism, you jackass. He's exposing the RCMP for what they are, or what they were in this case and several others: factually incorrect and morally bankrupt.

Arar languished in Syria while Zaccardelli was lacing up his $1,100 riding boots knowing that Arar there based on bad information.

Zaccardelli got what was long-overdue (after you royally f*ck up 5 or 6 major investigations, I guess someone takes notice). I only hope that some of the dipshits underneath him who also had this knowledge will end up shovelling shit out of the musical ride's stables instead of "investigating", because they have no place in our national police force.

[CD]

Arar still a threat to U.S., based on independent evidence, says ambassador

15 Dec, 3:36 PM

OTTAWA (CP) - The U.S. ambassador to Canada says Maher Arar is still considered a threat to the United States and will remain on a security watchlist, despite the findings of a Canadian inquiry.

"The decision to remove Mr. Arar from the United States in 2002 was made by U.S. officials based on our own independent assessment of the threat to the United States," David Wilkins said in a statement Friday. American officials had other sources of information about Arar, beyond that provided by the RCMP, and continue to regard Arar as a potential threat, Wilkins said.

The ambassador noted that Justice Dennis O'Connor, head of a recent inquiry that determined the RCMP gave the Americans false information about Arar, acknowledged he did not know about everything in Arar's American file.

O'Connor's inquiry found no evidence linking Arar to terrorism, but the Americans continue to deny him clearance to enter the country or even fly over U.S. airspace.

It was the first formal acknowledgment from Washington that the U.S. government remains suspicious of Arar, based on what it says are their own independent sources.

"Mr. Arar's original removal from the United States in 2002 was based on information from a variety of sources, as is his current watchlist status," Wilkins said in his statement.

NDP Leader Jack Layton urged the prime minister to intervene to have Arar's name stripped from the Americans' border watch list.

"This is simply not right," Layton told a news conference. "There is no evidence that Mr. Arar's name should be on such a list. We held a whole inquiry here in Canada on this question.

"The prime minister must do everything he possibly can to correct this situation because otherwise it sends out the message that the Canadian government does not stand behind its own citizens."

O'Connor determined that U.S. authorities were likely acting on misguided RCMP evidence in 2002 when they deported Arar to Damascus, where the Syrian-born Canadian was tortured into false confessions of terrorist involvement. But Wilkins' statement Friday suggests the RCMP information did not necessarily tip the balance against Arar.

The Mounties have since apologized for their mistake. Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli resigned after giving a Commons committee conflicting evidence on what he knew about the Arar case and when he knew it.

Wilkins refused to elaborate further on the evidence U.S. authorities may have against Arar, citing a lawsuit Arar has launched against the American government. The ambassador, however, pointed out the lawsuit was dismissed at the trial level, although it is currently under appeal.

Whatever that evidence may be, it didn't come from the U.S. State Department, said department spokesman Sean McCormack.

"The terror watchlist is managed here by the U.S. government. There's a lot of different inputs to it," McCormack said in response to questions at the department's daily briefing.

"I can tell you, it's not a State Department input that has resulted in his still being on the list."

The Washington-based Center for Constitutional Rights, a non-profit group dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, came to Arar's defence on Friday.

"That the United States would have the gall to keep Maher on a watch list, implying that he poses a threat to this country, is outrageous although not surprising since this administration is unwilling to admit its mistakes and still tries to conceal them," said the group's attorney, Maria LaHood.

"The real threat to the U.S. is our government's utter disregard for the rule of law and for the truth, which Maher has had the courage to stand up and expose."

Added executive director Vincent Warren: "After disappearing an innocent man, robbing him of his humanity and destroying his life, the U.S. government owes Maher Arar an apology. What happened to Mr. Arar should never happen to another human being."

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said last week he didn't know whether Arar was still on the watchlist, telling a Commons committee he had recently posed the question to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. He said he was told it was Arar's responsibility to find out for himself.

A spokesperson for Day said the minister also wrote Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff requesting the U.S. remove Arar from its watch list.

Arar has called for full accountability from Canadian officials involved in his detention.

He has also sued officials from the RCMP, CSIS, Foreign Affairs and others in senior government positions for their alleged role in his deportation and detention in Syria. The lawsuit seeks $37 million in compensation for "extraordinary injury."

[Siddley Hawker]

Since Arar holds dual citizenship, and he was travelling on his Syrian passport when he was nailed, is Syria going to ante up a few bucks for that 37 mil pot?

[2R]

The plot thickens,

Sub Judica