The national security certificate against a Syrian refugee accused of having terrorist ties is based on "stereotypical conclusions" rooted in a "mistrust of Muslims," the lawyer for Hassan Almrei argued Tuesday. Lawyer Barbara Jackman was in Federal Court for a judicial review of the certificate that has kept Almrei behind bars and in solitary confinement in a Toronto jail since October 2001. Jackman told Justice Edmond Blanchard that the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration is using "speculative" evidence to justify her client's ongoing detention. "It's completely based on assumptions," she said of the government's tribunal record against Almrei. | And just what do those mean old Canadian's have against your poor client? |
"It requires stereotypical conclusions to be drawn based on the fact that he is a Muslim born in Syria who grew up in Saudi Arabia." | Damm, he hit the trifecta! |
Rather, the evidence suggests Almrei is a bona fide refugee whose life would be at "substantial risk" if he were deported to his native Syria, Jackman said. Almrei came to Canada in 1999 and was granted refugee status a year later. The government alleges he was part of a forgery ring and a member of an international network of extremist groups loyal to Osama bin Laden. Ottawa also alleges Almrei used a honey business as a front to help fund al-Qaida. Almrei has admitted to lying to the Immigration and Refugee Board and to using fake passports obtained by the extremist group Syrian Muslim Brotherhood. | Oh, so he admitted to it. What, did the mounties work him over? |
He has also said that as a young man, he lived in camps and guest houses in Afghanistan, one of which was said to be linked to bin Laden. | Let's see, Muslim, Syrian native brought up in the Magic Kingdom, admits to using phoney papers he got from the Muslim Brotherhood, and went camping in BinLadenstan. I can see where you might jump to the conclusion he's up to no good. |
Almrei chose not to appear in court Tuesday because of strict protocol that requires him to be bound, shackled and strip-searched each time he leaves the jail, said one of his many supporters who packed the courtroom. | What, no panties on his head? |
Jean Hanson, who described herself as one of Almrei's "Canadian mothers," said the strip-searches are humiliating for a Muslim man. "Why would he want to come (to court) if he knows he's going to be treated like that?" she said. "He phones up and says, 'Hi, Mother Jean.' He's family at this point. He is really discouraged. He has no reason to think that he will actually be treated fairly." | "He's a good boy" etc......... |
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