Canada has long prided itself as a protector of human rights and fundamental freedoms. But
the cases of Canadians Abdullah Almalki, Muayyed Nureddin and Ahmad El Maati seem to
paint a very different picture. Each man endured physical and psychological torture in Syrian
prisons -- and one in an Egyptian prison as well -- and what has emerged from their cases is
a pattern of Canadian complicity in their incarceration and torture.
The same fact finder who concluded Maher Arar was tortured in Syria also found that these
three men %u201Csuffered severe physical and psychological trauma while in detention.%u201D
These men, along with everyone else in Canada, need to know what happened, why it
happened, and how to prevent it from ever happening again.
The inquiry into the role of Canadian officials in their incarceration and torture, known as the
Iacobucci Inquiry, is being conducted in total secrecy. I cannot have confidence in a secret
process. In order for justice to be done, it must be done in the public view, not behind closed
doors.
I demand that the government hold a full public inquiry into the role of Canadian officials in
the detention, interrogation, and torture of Mssrs. Almalki, El Maati and Nureddin. Anything
short of this will leave too many questions unanswered, and allow those responsible for such
human rights abuses to escape exposure and accountability.
Ultimately, secrecy prevents the Canadian government from implementing and enforcing the
reforms necessary to ensure such abuses are never inflicted again on anyone.
Canada has long prided itself as a protector of human rights and fundamental freedoms. But
the cases of Canadians Abdullah Almalki, Muayyed Nureddin and Ahmad El Maati seem to
paint a very different picture. Each man endured physical and psychological torture in Syrian
prisons -- and one in an Egyptian prison as well -- and what has emerged from their cases is
a pattern of Canadian complicity in their incarceration and torture.
The same fact finder who concluded Maher Arar was tortured in Syria also found that these
three men %u201Csuffered severe physical and psychological trauma while in detention.%u201D
These men, along with everyone else in Canada, need to know what happened, why it
happened, and how to prevent it from ever happening again.
The inquiry into the role of Canadian officials in their incarceration and torture, known as the
Iacobucci Inquiry, is being conducted in total secrecy. I cannot have confidence in a secret
process. In order for justice to be done, it must be done in the public view, not behind closed
doors.
I demand that the government hold a full public inquiry into the role of Canadian officials in
the detention, interrogation, and torture of Mssrs. Almalki, El Maati and Nureddin. Anything
short of this will leave too many questions unanswered, and allow those responsible for such
human rights abuses to escape exposure and accountability.
Ultimately, secrecy prevents the Canadian government from implementing and enforcing the
reforms necessary to ensure such abuses are never inflicted again on anyone.
