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The leader of one of America's closest allies in the war on terror today personally criticized the U.S. for the way it handled a Canadian citizen suspected by the U.S. of having terrorist connections.
Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper, today sent a formal letter of apology to a Syrian-born Canadian, Maher Arar, who was detained in 2002 at Kennedy airport in New York on his way home from an overseas trip. U.S. officials determined he was a potential risk and deported him -- not to Canada but to Syria. Because he held dual citizenship, he was deportable to either country.
Arar claims, and a Canadian inquiry confirmed, that he was imprisoned in Syria for 10 months and brutally tortured. Canada says the U.S. decision to deport him was based in part on intelligence information provided by the Canadian government, which it has since said was erroneous.
Canada today offered Arar nearly $9 million in compensation, which his lawyer today said he'll likely accept. In making the announcement, Prime Minister Harper called on the U.S. to remove Arar from a no-fly list.
Last week, the U.S. declined to take that action. A letter signed by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said they believe "the continued watch listing of Mr. Arar is appropriate." They said that conclusion was reached independent of the intelligence provided earlier by Canada.
A report by the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general is due out within a month or so. Government officials who have seen a draft say it will be critical of the U.S. handling of the case.
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At week's end
Taking an innocent man and deporting him to a country that will torture him. The Arar case has definitely made me and many of my friends (who could be thought as looking arab) from ever going on a trip down to the U.S. The fact that he is not taken off the terror list shows that the U.S does not want to admit its mistake, admitting fault would open up a can of worms as to whether or not the tens of thousands of illegal detainees in the over 100+ detention centers in the world are innocent or guilty. Then again, how can you prove you are innocent when you never have due process?
John, Ottawa, Canada. (Sent Jan 31, 2007 3:43:10 AM)
Arar does not have a choice as to where he was born. If he has family in Syria, it is probably beneficial for him to remain a citizen for easy arrival and departure. The fact that he was flying on a Canadian passport and was detained in the United States because he happened to have a dual citizenship with a country we view as a terrorist threat, should not be held against him. Unless some other factor of Arar’s past is involved, Arar is the citizen of the country of which he holds his passport.
Katlin, Seattle (Sent Jan 30, 2007 9:19:46 AM)
Arar is a Canadian citizen and was traveling on a Canadian passport, he should have been sent back to Canada to be investigated. In the end he was found to be an innocent person and to prevent such errors in the future, the US should revisit their policies regarding such issues.
(Sent Jan 29, 2007 3:48:02 PM)
The leader of Canada criticized the U.S. for the way it handled a Syrian citizen who also held dual citizenship in Canada, suspected by the U.S. of having terrorist connections.
Stephen Harper is not responsible for U.S.A. security or civil rights. U.S. officials determined he was a potential risk and deported him -- not to Canada but to Syria. Because among other reasons, he came here from Syria. He did not come here from Canada, he came here from Syria. I would hope if Canada found someone to be a risk to Canada’s safety had landed there in rout to the US, the they would send them back to where they came from and not on to the US.
Arar claims, that the decision to deport him was based in part on intelligence information provided by the Canadian government. Well how much money does the U.S. have to spend, and how much risk do we have to endure to protect the feelings of those we deem dangerous to us?
Canada wants the U.S.A. to remove Arar from a no-fly list. Homeland Security declined, not because we want to be mean to Arar, but because we are protecting our safety, If anyone chooses to come to the U.S. of A. for any reason, They had better weigh weather or not they are affiliated with any terrorist group or state. For Secretary Chertoff and Attorney General Gonzales, I raise my glass, and applaud them. Hoorah! About time The United States of America started putting the safety of her own and the civil liberty of her own above the feelings, and rights of non U.S. of A. people.
If a report of this is made and some week willed ignorant Government officials are critical of the U.S. handling of the case, then we will deal with them with our vote.
Stand by UN and be on notice World. The U.S. of A. will sacrifice our money, our peace, and even our blood, for those who are not Americans, but we will no longer sacrifice our FREEDOM, our Civil Liberty, for the sake of a non U.S. of A. citizen.
Lets not forget, Canada" did not denounce the U.S. of A. for our actions, Stephen Harper did, I hardley believe he speaks for all Canadians. If anybody thinks U.S. of A. would not go up in a ball of smoke protecting Canada, they are delusional. God Save The Queen; God Bless The U.S.A. and to hell with anyone who chooses a lifestyle that puts iether of us in danger, even if only is potential danger.
Brian Osborne MO USA (Sent Jan 28, 2007 11:22:28 AM)
Ah yes... the plethora of responses acknowledging the darker side of the war on terror... Faulty imprisonment, torture, spying... What a beacon we've become to freedom and civil rights.
Chris Eldridge, Harrisburg Pa (Sent Jan 26, 2007 5:22:49 PM)
Just because he also holds a dual canadian citizenship, it doesn't mean canada owes him any money. Canada did nothing wrong by forwarding the information it had. If Arar didn't want to go to syria he should have given up his syrian citizenship. let syria pay if it did torture him.
marc, ny (Sent Jan 26, 2007 4:20:08 PM)
Guilty until proven innocent. Isn't that sort of French? Ironic
(Sent Jan 26, 2007 3:40:21 PM)
Mr. Williams,
I appreciate you writing the Canadian story about Mr Arar. It's important that Canadian news gets to the American people.
George Jordan
Prince Edward Island, Canada
George (Sent Jan 26, 2007 3:39:19 PM)
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