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Maher Arar's Lawyers Seek Criminal Charges Against U.S. Officials

By Jeralyn, Section Terror Detainees
Posted on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 08:41:44 PM EST
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Maher Arar, the Canadian who was secretly whisked off to Jordan and Syria where he alleges he was tortured, wants criminal charges brought against the U.S. officials who authorized his seizure and transfer.

Attorneys for Maher Arar said Thursday that Canadian criminal charges should be brought against U.S. agents responsible for spiriting the Canadian man to Syria in 2002, where he was imprisoned and allegedly tortured for almost a year.

Drawing parallels to the charges brought against CIA operatives by a Milan magistrate last week, attorney Marlys Edwardh said Canadian law defined torture as illegal wherever it occurs. Arar, 34, was seized by U.S. agents while he was changing planes in New York, questioned for 12 days and then transported in shackles to Syria.

Canada has been conducting a judicial inquiry into Arar's case:

Testimony given during the inquiry this week described extensive and highly organized involvement with Syria by both Canadian and U.S. officials, which was ongoing by 2002. According to the testimony, those involved included Canadian legal advisers, diplomats and members of the CIA and FBI, all of whom regularly approved giving the Syrians intelligence and other information to be used in interrogations.

He also has a civil suit pending against former Attorney General John Ashcroft and others, and another against Syria and Jordan.

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    Maher Arar's Lawyers Seek Criminal Charges Against U.S. Officials | 5 comments (5 topical)
    Re: Maher Arar's Lawyers Seek Criminal Charges Aga (none / 0) (#1)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:45 PM EST
    I wonder, if terrorists kidnapped a white American and took them to Syria to be tortured, would the Bush Administration view it as a problem?

    Re: Maher Arar's Lawyers Seek Criminal Charges Aga (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:45 PM EST
    Interesting broadcast yesterday on Democracy Now about the criminal prosecution potential for Dubya, Alberto, Rummy, and Tenet under the US War Crimes Act of 1996. One thing I like about our checks and balances is that a single branch of the federal govt can keep the entire govt aright at times. We need one persistent prosecutor and one judge like Sirica and justice may be done.

    Re: Maher Arar's Lawyers Seek Criminal Charges Aga (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:45 PM EST
    You all will love this one... FoxSpews accuses the U.S. Military of torturing Americans in Iraq... No joke...

    Re: Maher Arar's Lawyers Seek Criminal Charges Aga (none / 0) (#4)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:46 PM EST
    Blagh - Does mean Canada is now allowing FNC in Canada????

    Re: Maher Arar's Lawyers Seek Criminal Charges Aga (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:46 PM EST
    Yup, since last summer, and boy, was Blagh missing out on some great f#cking comedy... Here's a gem for you, PPJ, a F#ck You to Canada from FoxSpews' John Gibson on our birthday and Blaghdaddy' response to it... How Proud are you today of you kind and polite Americans, PPJ?

    Maher Arar's Lawyers Seek Criminal Charges Against U.S. Officials | 5 comments (5 topical)