US still claims Canadian citizen, Maher Arar has "unequivocal membership of al-Qaida."

[sabra]

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=1415927c-4fc5-44be-b9ac-cd9043b88d0d&k=7017

NEW YORK -- Gasps broke out in a U.S. federal appeals court Friday as a U.S. government lawyer spoke of Maher Arar's "unequivocal membership of al-Qaida."

One of the court's three sitting judges echoed the reaction of many in the public gallery, declaring the statement stunned him too.

Not only has a Canadian judicial inquiry cleared Arar of having any terrorism links, but U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has admitted the U.S. government did not properly handle his case.

"It was kind of a shocking statement with which to start," Judge Robert Sack told Dennis Barghaan, one of three government attorneys opposing Arar's bid to see his lawsuit against the U.S. government reinstated.

Arar lawyer Maria Lahood hinted outside the courtroom the judge's reaction bodes well for Arar's case.

"To me, it was a sign the judge knew this was an innocent man," she said.

...

A Syrian-born Canadian, Arar sued the U.S. government for secretly shipping him in 2002 to Syria, where he was tortured during almost a year in custody.

[Richard Steele]

1. Just unbelievable. grrrecommended

[sabra]

2. they probably basing it on the info Arar told his Syrian torturers after 8 months of imprisonment?

:eyes:

[Oilwellian]

3. Mr. Arar Speaks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzQXqGuHGKk

This is just too much. Our Justice Department is an abomination.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

4. That lawyer should be disbarred! His/her representation is a completely inaccurate,...

,...assertion given the facts.

No wonder people fucking HATE lawyers!!!

[Spazito]

5. The judge's comments certainly don't indicate the government

is going to get a free pass on this and that is very good to read.

Thanks for posting this, much appreciated.

[Javaman]

6. so do these "unequivocal members" have a membership card?

or a secret handshake?

[Solly Mack]

7. k/r

fucked up pieces of shit

[Canuckistanian]

8. It's amazing

Amazing that they have to provide NO PROOF of this claim because of the "state secret" provision in law.

Is there no way a judge can be vetted in order to actually see the "evidence" that the government has??

If it's so fucking obvious Arar is an "Al Qaeda member", then it shouldn't be a problem, right? RIGHT???

[stranger81]

9. Makes me ashamed to be a lawyer . . . . .

who needs facts when you have your own version of reality?

[buzzard]

10. Every time I see this man or his family being interviewed I feel sick for what has happened to him. ...

know he hopes that someday the US will apologize and clear his name no matter how long this takes. I guess we take for granted our rights as Canadian citizens and fail to understand how fragile these are when we come from another Country where false charges are so easily laid and difficult to dispute.