Benatta Petition for a Public Review
Target:
The Hon. Stockwell Day, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety
Sponsored by:
Mr. Benatta is a 33 year old Algerian citizen who trained as an aeronautical engineer. He came to North America to flee political persecution and threats to his life while serving in the Algerian Armed Forces. On September 5, 2001, Mr. Benatta crossed the border into Canada and claimed political asylum. His biggest fear was being returned to Algeria where he was certain to be tortured or killed for deserting the military. Canadian authorities put Mr. Benatta into immigration detention while they tried to ascertain his identity.
While in Canadian custody and unbeknown to Mr. Benatta, terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre in New York City and other targets on September 11, 2001. Canadian officials alerted U.S. officials to the presence of Mr. Benatta, presumably because he is a Muslim man who knows something about airplanes. Without a hearing, without counsel and without conducting proceedings in his first language (French), Mr. Benatta was unceremoniously driven over the border in the back of a car by Canadian officials and handed over to U.S. officials on September 12, 2001. This was an illegal transfer. This action by Canadian officials was the beginning of a long nightmare for Mr. Benatta.
Mr. Benatta was held in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn , New York , where he was treated as a suspect in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He was beaten. He was abused. He was held in conditions that the United Nations described as torture. He was forgotten.
Mr. Benatta was actually cleared of any terrorist activity by the FBI in November 2001; however, he was never told that he was cleared because he was being held incommunicado and did not have access to a lawyer.
In all, Mr. Benatta, an innocent man, spent nearly five years of his life in American prisons in conditions that could be described as torture as found by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in an Opinion adopted in 2004. Mr. Benatta also suffered serious abuse at the hands of his prison guards, which is documented by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Canadian Government, various agencies and government officials all bear some measure of responsibility for Mr. Benatta's ordeal.
Mr. Benatta has been allowed to return to Canada to resume his claim for refugee status. His application is pending. He is trying to get his life back. He is trying to find out the truth about why this happened to him. For more information about Benatta's ordeal visit www.benamarbenatta.com
Please join us in asking for a public review in the Canadian officials' actions in illegally transferring Benatta to the United States. As a result of such actions, Benatta was tortured, abused and imprisoned for 5 years.
While in Canadian custody and unbeknown to Mr. Benatta, terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre in New York City and other targets on September 11, 2001. Canadian officials alerted U.S. officials to the presence of Mr. Benatta, presumably because he is a Muslim man who knows something about airplanes. Without a hearing, without counsel and without conducting proceedings in his first language (French), Mr. Benatta was unceremoniously driven over the border in the back of a car by Canadian officials and handed over to U.S. officials on September 12, 2001. This was an illegal transfer. This action by Canadian officials was the beginning of a long nightmare for Mr. Benatta.
Mr. Benatta was held in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn , New York , where he was treated as a suspect in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He was beaten. He was abused. He was held in conditions that the United Nations described as torture. He was forgotten.
Mr. Benatta was actually cleared of any terrorist activity by the FBI in November 2001; however, he was never told that he was cleared because he was being held incommunicado and did not have access to a lawyer.
In all, Mr. Benatta, an innocent man, spent nearly five years of his life in American prisons in conditions that could be described as torture as found by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in an Opinion adopted in 2004. Mr. Benatta also suffered serious abuse at the hands of his prison guards, which is documented by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Canadian Government, various agencies and government officials all bear some measure of responsibility for Mr. Benatta's ordeal.
Mr. Benatta has been allowed to return to Canada to resume his claim for refugee status. His application is pending. He is trying to get his life back. He is trying to find out the truth about why this happened to him. For more information about Benatta's ordeal visit www.benamarbenatta.com
Please join us in asking for a public review in the Canadian officials' actions in illegally transferring Benatta to the United States. As a result of such actions, Benatta was tortured, abused and imprisoned for 5 years.
Mr. Benatta is a 33 year old Algerian citizen who trained as an aeronautical engineer. He came to North America to flee political persecution and threats to his life while serving in the Algerian Armed Forces. On September 5, 2001, Mr. Benatta crossed the border into Canada and claimed political asylum. His biggest fear was being returned to Algeria where he was certain to be tortured or killed for deserting the military. Canadian authorities put Mr. Benatta into immigration detention while they tried to ascertain his identity.
While in Canadian custody and unbeknown to Mr. Benatta, terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre in New York City and other targets on September 11, 2001. Canadian officials alerted U.S. officials to the presence of Mr. Benatta, presumably because he is a Muslim man who knows something about airplanes. Without a hearing, without counsel and without conducting proceedings in his first language (French), Mr. Benatta was unceremoniously driven over the border in the back of a car by Canadian officials and handed over to U.S. officials on September 12, 2001. This was an illegal transfer. This action by Canadian officials was the beginning of a long nightmare for Mr. Benatta.
Mr. Benatta was held in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn , New York , where he was treated as a suspect in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He was beaten. He was abused. He was held in conditions that the United Nations described as torture. He was forgotten.
Mr. Benatta was actually cleared of any terrorist activity by the FBI in November 2001; however, he was never told that he was cleared because he was being held incommunicado and did not have access to a lawyer.
In all, Mr. Benatta, an innocent man, spent nearly five years of his life in American prisons in conditions that could be described as torture as found by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in an Opinion adopted in 2004. Mr. Benatta also suffered serious abuse at the hands of his prison guards, which is documented by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Canadian Government, various agencies and government officials all bear some measure of responsibility for Mr. Benatta's ordeal.
Mr. Benatta has been allowed to return to Canada to resume his claim for refugee status. His application is pending. He is trying to get his life back. He is trying to find out the truth about why this happened to him. For more information about Benatta's ordeal visit www.benamarbenatta.com
Please join us in asking for a public review in the Canadian officials' actions in illegally transferring Benatta to the United States. As a result of such actions, Benatta was tortured, abused and imprisoned for 5 years.
While in Canadian custody and unbeknown to Mr. Benatta, terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre in New York City and other targets on September 11, 2001. Canadian officials alerted U.S. officials to the presence of Mr. Benatta, presumably because he is a Muslim man who knows something about airplanes. Without a hearing, without counsel and without conducting proceedings in his first language (French), Mr. Benatta was unceremoniously driven over the border in the back of a car by Canadian officials and handed over to U.S. officials on September 12, 2001. This was an illegal transfer. This action by Canadian officials was the beginning of a long nightmare for Mr. Benatta.
Mr. Benatta was held in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn , New York , where he was treated as a suspect in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He was beaten. He was abused. He was held in conditions that the United Nations described as torture. He was forgotten.
Mr. Benatta was actually cleared of any terrorist activity by the FBI in November 2001; however, he was never told that he was cleared because he was being held incommunicado and did not have access to a lawyer.
In all, Mr. Benatta, an innocent man, spent nearly five years of his life in American prisons in conditions that could be described as torture as found by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in an Opinion adopted in 2004. Mr. Benatta also suffered serious abuse at the hands of his prison guards, which is documented by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Canadian Government, various agencies and government officials all bear some measure of responsibility for Mr. Benatta's ordeal.
Mr. Benatta has been allowed to return to Canada to resume his claim for refugee status. His application is pending. He is trying to get his life back. He is trying to find out the truth about why this happened to him. For more information about Benatta's ordeal visit www.benamarbenatta.com
Please join us in asking for a public review in the Canadian officials' actions in illegally transferring Benatta to the United States. As a result of such actions, Benatta was tortured, abused and imprisoned for 5 years.
Dear Minister:
We, the undersigned, urge you to commission a public review into the actions of Canadian officials in illegally transferring Benamar Benatta to U.S. officials on September 12, 2001.
Such a review must be comprehensive, credible, independent and impartial and must inspire public confidence in the result.
No Canadian official or agency should be exempt from scrutiny.
As you know, following his transfer to the U.S. on September 12, 2001, Mr. Benatta was treated as a suspect in the September 11th terror attacks. Despite being cleared by the FBI of any suspicions in November 2001, he remained in detention in the U.S. for nearly five years, until being transferred back to Canada and allowed to resume his refugee claim.
We believe that it is necessary to determine how Mr. Benatta came to be handed over to the U.S. for a number of reasons. Mr. Benatta deserves an explanation for what happened to him so that he can try to get on with his life. Canadians need to know to what extent Canadian officials sought to disregard Canadian law, International law and indeed, the rule of law in transferring Mr. Benatta to U.S. officials on September 12, 2001.
We need to know whether there are similar cases and finally, we need to ensure that any future injustices are prevented.
We, the undersigned, urge you to commission a public review into the actions of Canadian officials in illegally transferring Benamar Benatta to U.S. officials on September 12, 2001.
Such a review must be comprehensive, credible, independent and impartial and must inspire public confidence in the result.
No Canadian official or agency should be exempt from scrutiny.
As you know, following his transfer to the U.S. on September 12, 2001, Mr. Benatta was treated as a suspect in the September 11th terror attacks. Despite being cleared by the FBI of any suspicions in November 2001, he remained in detention in the U.S. for nearly five years, until being transferred back to Canada and allowed to resume his refugee claim.
We believe that it is necessary to determine how Mr. Benatta came to be handed over to the U.S. for a number of reasons. Mr. Benatta deserves an explanation for what happened to him so that he can try to get on with his life. Canadians need to know to what extent Canadian officials sought to disregard Canadian law, International law and indeed, the rule of law in transferring Mr. Benatta to U.S. officials on September 12, 2001.
We need to know whether there are similar cases and finally, we need to ensure that any future injustices are prevented.
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We signed the "Benatta Petition for a Public Review" petition!
# 934:
7:52 pm PDT, Aug 28,
Jayne Riley, United Kingdom
I think compensation is in order for this man and a full explanation. I support the idea of a public review and then the idea of penalty for these actions. The same should occur in America, Land of the Insane and Home of the Hystically-Terrified- Shoot-First-And-Ask-Questions-Later.
I think compensation is in order for this man and a full explanation. I support the idea of a public review and then the idea of penalty for these actions. The same should occur in America, Land of the Insane and Home of the Hystically-Terrified- Shoot-First-And-Ask-Questions-Later.
# 933:
6:21 pm PDT, Aug 27,
Annette S, Panama
# 932:
12:25 pm PDT, Aug 10,
Name not displayed, Maryland
# 931:
8:38 pm PDT, Aug 7,
Telma Alencar, Canada
# 930:
3:18 am PDT, Jul 27,
Cherie Thomas-Wood, Tennessee
This was just so very, very wrong and He needs answers to Why this happened!
This was just so very, very wrong and He needs answers to Why this happened!
# 929:
8:47 pm PDT, Jul 20,
James Hernandez, Florida
# 928:
3:37 am PDT, Jul 15,
John Hill, Canada
# 927:
2:37 pm PDT, Jul 13,
Susan L. Breeze, Canada
It is only FAIR and JUST that a public review of Mr. Benatta's case be conducted. We live in a nation founded on democracy - deportation for torture, imprisonment for unsubstantiated 'evidence' - secret trials - security certificates - have no place in a democratic civil society. ...first they came for my neighbour...I did nothing...now they come for me...who will do something? We must demand a transparent system - it is the right of every Canadian.
It is only FAIR and JUST that a public review of Mr. Benatta's case be conducted. We live in a nation founded on democracy - deportation for torture, imprisonment for unsubstantiated 'evidence' - secret trials - security certificates - have no place in a democratic civil society. ...first they came for my neighbour...I did nothing...now they come for me...who will do something? We must demand a transparent system - it is the right of every Canadian.
# 926:
7:04 pm PDT, Jul 3,
Kirryn Hashmi, Canada
# 925:
10:01 pm PDT, Jun 16,
Anthony Kalnoky, Virginia
# 924:
8:34 am PDT, Jun 7,
Alex Fregoso, Canada
This is pathetic. It goes to show the 'friends' the U.S. has in Canada. I am proud of my country, however it is slowly being taken under the wing of the U.S. This is something I can not stand for. The true, honest Canadian officials who know that this man did not deserve what he got need to rid our government of the corrupt individuals who will be the downfall to this country. Think, you have that power.
This is pathetic. It goes to show the 'friends' the U.S. has in Canada. I am proud of my country, however it is slowly being taken under the wing of the U.S. This is something I can not stand for. The true, honest Canadian officials who know that this man did not deserve what he got need to rid our government of the corrupt individuals who will be the downfall to this country. Think, you have that power.
# 923:
5:46 am PDT, May 30,
Leslie Lappalainen, Canada
# 922:
7:28 pm PDT, May 28,
Hon.Howard Birnbaum, New York
# 921:
7:27 pm PDT, May 28,
Frank Kunkel, New York
# 920:
7:26 pm PDT, May 28,
Mike Pert, New York
# 919:
7:24 pm PDT, May 28,
Yariv Leers, New York
# 918:
7:23 pm PDT, May 28,
Arline Wrecker, New York
# 917:
7:22 pm PDT, May 28,
Joe Tobia, New York
# 916:
7:21 pm PDT, May 28,
Jeff Fischman, New Jersey
# 915:
7:20 pm PDT, May 28,
Eric Waxman, Pennsylvania
# 914:
7:10 pm PDT, May 28,
Seth Stern, New Jersey
# 913:
2:21 pm PDT, May 27,
Soraya Mohamed, Canada
# 912:
11:31 am PDT, May 27,
A N, Canada
Please maintain Canada's international image as an honest and peaceful nation.
Please maintain Canada's international image as an honest and peaceful nation.
# 911:
11:03 am PDT, May 24,
Name not displayed, Canada
# 910:
1:20 pm PDT, May 15,
Name not displayed, Canada
How did this happen? Did this really happen in our Canada?! I don't know Mr. Benatta but I think Canada owes him answers. Who'll bring back 5 lost years from Mr. Benatta's life spent in torture in the US?
How did this happen? Did this really happen in our Canada?! I don't know Mr. Benatta but I think Canada owes him answers. Who'll bring back 5 lost years from Mr. Benatta's life spent in torture in the US?
# 909:
7:30 pm PDT, May 12,
Name not displayed, Canada
It is a shame that something like this happens in Canada!
It is a shame that something like this happens in Canada!
# 908:
3:58 pm PDT, May 12,
Wendy Sheppard, Canada
# 907:
11:34 am PDT, Apr 6,
Ibtisaam Abboud, Canada
I think this is definitely racial and religious profiling which is totally surprising in Canada.
I think this is definitely racial and religious profiling which is totally surprising in Canada.
# 906:
6:18 am PDT, Mar 31,
Elizabeth Oehrn, Sweden
# 905:
4:49 pm PDT, Mar 28,
Ines Seidel, Germany
# 904:
10:48 am PDT, Mar 27,
Anne Seidel, Germany
# 903:
1:20 pm PDT, Mar 22,
Telma Alencar, Canada
I come from a country where, on the late 60's 70's 80's, the government had the interests of other country in "its heart". For whatever reason it was, the rights of people in my home country were second, not first. And I sat there and thought it was "OK" - The government knew what they were doing, I thought. But I did not even imagine that I could be the next victim of impunity - I was "protected", so I thought - "I was so...Law abbiding.... Took me decades to understand that once torture, impunity and abuse starts, it is a matter of time till it spreads and becomes part of the culture and for sure will come to the ones that believe to be innoculated from it. I learned this and hope that Canada will never accept cumplicity with all the atrocities that started in Latin America that were just like "a trainning field almost" and that claimed lives of thousands of people in Brazil, Argentina, Chile etc.... Torture and abuse umpunished today , will for sure spread and finnaly hurt those who believe to be "innoculated", "protected"...It is just a matter of time. It will affect our kids, our grandkids...all next generations. Torture, arbitrary imprisonments, impunity and abuse in the "no marks" style, as in Guantanamo and elsewhere, each day perfected by technology and with the arrogant "certainty" of impunity is the certainty of disgrace. I pray that Mr. Benatta will find justice which will be not only him but all of us living in Canada and in the world who have to witness these atrocities umpunished as if we were acomplices. Let Canada stand out as "The best country in the world" not as the "friend of the most powerful".
I come from a country where, on the late 60's 70's 80's, the government had the interests of other country in "its heart". For whatever reason it was, the rights of people in my home country were second, not first. And I sat there and thought it was "OK" - The government knew what they were doing, I thought. But I did not even imagine that I could be the next victim of impunity - I was "protected", so I thought - "I was so...Law abbiding.... Took me decades to understand that once torture, impunity and abuse starts, it is a matter of time till it spreads and becomes part of the culture and for sure will come to the ones that believe to be innoculated from it. I learned this and hope that Canada will never accept cumplicity with all the atrocities that started in Latin America that were just like "a trainning field almost" and that claimed lives of thousands of people in Brazil, Argentina, Chile etc.... Torture and abuse umpunished today , will for sure spread and finnaly hurt those who believe to be "innoculated", "protected"...It is just a matter of time. It will affect our kids, our grandkids...all next generations. Torture, arbitrary imprisonments, impunity and abuse in the "no marks" style, as in Guantanamo and elsewhere, each day perfected by technology and with the arrogant "certainty" of impunity is the certainty of disgrace. I pray that Mr. Benatta will find justice which will be not only him but all of us living in Canada and in the world who have to witness these atrocities umpunished as if we were acomplices. Let Canada stand out as "The best country in the world" not as the "friend of the most powerful".
# 902:
5:37 pm PDT, Mar 15,
Name not displayed, Canada
