Canada Falsely Accused Torture Victim—But America Kidnapped Him & Had Him Tortured!
Much of the conversation on FoxNews and elsewhere has been concerned with the atrocities that were not committed at Guantanimo. Unfortunately, the problem with this is that when you concentrate on Guantanimo you set aside the atrocities that were committed and how the Federal Governement was able through the use of the CIA rendition program to elicit the aid of foreign governments, some of which, like Syria that it has both used and demonized, are governments whose relationship to America's War on Terror are problematic. But the question of whether America is using torture is eventually a problem that goes far beyond Guantanimo and indeed is a program that deserves more light shone on it. So far the only person doing much of this illumination is Amy Goodman and the Radio and television show Democracy Now. She has her third extended interview with Maher Arar today on her show, if you can hear it or watch it you deserve to do give yourself that opportunity. Or as John Kay said of the Ostrichso many years ago, you can "stick your head into the sand and pretend that all is grand and hope everything turns out OK."
Canada Falsely Accused Torture Victim—But America Kidnapped and Sent Him Off To Be Tortured.
By ROB GILLIES, Associated Press Writer Tue Sep 19, 9:23 AM ET
TORONTO - The United States "very likely" sent a Canadian software engineer to Syria, where he was tortured, based on the false accusation by Canadian authorities that he was suspected of links to al-Qaida, according to a new government report.
Syrian-born Maher Arar was exonerated of all suspicion of terrorist activity by the 2 1/2-year commission of inquiry into his case, which urged the Canadian government to offer him financial compensation. Arar is perhaps the world's best-known case of extraordinary rendition — the U.S. transfer of foreign terror suspects to third countries without court approval.
"I am able to say categorically that there is no evidence to indicate that Mr. Arar has committed any offense or that his activities constitute a threat to the security of Canada," Justice Dennis O'Connor said Monday in a three-volume report on the findings of the inquiry, part of which was made public.
Arar was traveling on a Canadian passport when he was detained at New York's Kennedy Airport on Sept. 26, 2002, on his way home from vacation in Tunisia.
Arar said U.S. authorities sent him to Syria for interrogation as a suspected member of al-Qaida, a link he denied.
He spent nearly a year in prison in Syria and made detailed allegations after his release in 2003 about extensive interrogation, beatings and whippings with electrical cables.
O'Connor criticized the U.S. and recommended that Ottawa file formal protests with both Washington and the Syrian government over Arar's treatment.
"The American authorities who handled Mr. Arar's case treated Mr. Arar in a most regrettable fashion," O'Connor wrote. "They removed him to Syria against his wishes and in the face of his statements that he would be tortured if sent there. Moreover, they dealt with Canadian officials involved with Mr. Arar's case in a less than forthcoming manner."
The U.S. is already under intense criticism from human rights groups over the practice of sending suspects to countries where they could be tortured.
Full Story
Much of the conversation on FoxNews and elsewhere has been concerned with the atrocities that were not committed at Guantanimo. Unfortunately, the problem with this is that when you concentrate on Guantanimo you set aside the atrocities that were committed and how the Federal Governement was able through the use of the CIA rendition program to elicit the aid of foreign governments, some of which, like Syria that it has both used and demonized, are governments whose relationship to America's War on Terror are problematic. But the question of whether America is using torture is eventually a problem that goes far beyond Guantanimo and indeed is a program that deserves more light shone on it. So far the only person doing much of this illumination is Amy Goodman and the Radio and television show Democracy Now. She has her third extended interview with Maher Arar today on her show, if you can hear it or watch it you deserve to do give yourself that opportunity. Or as John Kay said of the Ostrichso many years ago, you can "stick your head into the sand and pretend that all is grand and hope everything turns out OK."
Canada Falsely Accused Torture Victim—But America Kidnapped and Sent Him Off To Be Tortured.
By ROB GILLIES, Associated Press Writer Tue Sep 19, 9:23 AM ET
TORONTO - The United States "very likely" sent a Canadian software engineer to Syria, where he was tortured, based on the false accusation by Canadian authorities that he was suspected of links to al-Qaida, according to a new government report.
Syrian-born Maher Arar was exonerated of all suspicion of terrorist activity by the 2 1/2-year commission of inquiry into his case, which urged the Canadian government to offer him financial compensation. Arar is perhaps the world's best-known case of extraordinary rendition — the U.S. transfer of foreign terror suspects to third countries without court approval.
"I am able to say categorically that there is no evidence to indicate that Mr. Arar has committed any offense or that his activities constitute a threat to the security of Canada," Justice Dennis O'Connor said Monday in a three-volume report on the findings of the inquiry, part of which was made public.
Arar was traveling on a Canadian passport when he was detained at New York's Kennedy Airport on Sept. 26, 2002, on his way home from vacation in Tunisia.
Arar said U.S. authorities sent him to Syria for interrogation as a suspected member of al-Qaida, a link he denied.
He spent nearly a year in prison in Syria and made detailed allegations after his release in 2003 about extensive interrogation, beatings and whippings with electrical cables.
O'Connor criticized the U.S. and recommended that Ottawa file formal protests with both Washington and the Syrian government over Arar's treatment.
"The American authorities who handled Mr. Arar's case treated Mr. Arar in a most regrettable fashion," O'Connor wrote. "They removed him to Syria against his wishes and in the face of his statements that he would be tortured if sent there. Moreover, they dealt with Canadian officials involved with Mr. Arar's case in a less than forthcoming manner."
The U.S. is already under intense criticism from human rights groups over the practice of sending suspects to countries where they could be tortured.
Full Story
