Dear Prime Minister Harper,
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 suffered severe physical and psychological trauma while in detention.
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.
For more information visit us at:
www.abdullahalmalki.caIf you would like to stay informed about the cases or get involved, email
againstcanadiantorture@gmail.com"
