RCMP charge Syrian for torturing Maher Arar

[The_Squid]

I wonder if we can expect charges to be laid against Khadr's torturers at some point as well? Perhaps once there is a change in government, this will be accomplished.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/maher-arar-rendition-development-rcmp-1.3211088

RCMP have laid a charge in absentia against a Syrian intelligence officer accused of torturing Syrian-born Canadian Maher Arar, the first-ever charge of its kind in Canada.

Arar's lawyer, Paul Champ, said in Ottawa today that RCMP will attempt to extradite Col. George Salloum to Canada to face a charge of torture, which RCMP later confirmed. A Canada-wide warrant and Interpol notice have been issued for his arrest.

It is good to see at least a symbolic effort to bring some of the despots to justice who commit these acts.

[Topaz]

What happen with the US, who sent him over there to be tortured?

[The_Squid]

What happen with the US, who sent him over there to be tortured?

Canada also sent him to be tortured...

He will have to sue the U.S. gov't for compensation, I guess. But that's a different topic.

Will the RCMP issue a warrant for Khadr's American torturers?

[bush_cheney2004]

What happen with the US, who sent him over there to be tortured?

Nothing....Arar was not tortured in the first place. He was a deserter from mandatory Syrian military service and suffered the same fate as any perp incarcerated in Syria.

If he ever tries to enter the U.S. again, we will deport him right back to Syria !

Edited September 1, 2015 by bush_cheney2004

[The_Squid]

Nothing....Arar was not tortured in the first place. He was a deserter from mandatory Syrian military service and suffered the same fate as any perp incarcerated in Syria.

If he ever tries to enter the U.S. again, we will deport him right back to Syria !

It took the RCMP 10 years to lay charges in the Arar case. It might be a few years, but there could very well be charges in the Khadr case.

[bush_cheney2004]

It took the RCMP 10 years to lay charges in the Arar case. It might be a few years, but there could very well be charges in the Khadr case.

Maybe, but the charges are "in absentia". Ten years sounds about right...that's the about the tenure of an established Canadian PM.

[The_Squid]

Maybe, but the charges are "in absentia". Ten years sounds about right...that's the about the tenure of an established Canadian PM.

Of course they are.... He's a Syrian. Did you expect him to be in Scarborough?

The charges may be purely symbolic, since there is probably no way to find and bring the perp to Canada for trial...

But the torturers in the USA might be a different matter in the Khadr case. They could be extradited.

[bush_cheney2004]

....But the torturers in the USA might be a different matter in the Khadr case. They could be extradited.

Different topic...Khadr is a convicted murderer and war criminal.

[The_Squid]

Different topic...Khadr is a convicted murderer and war criminal.

As if that makes torture legal.... his "conviction" has no bearing on whether crimes were committed against him.

[On Guard for Thee]

Different topic...Khadr is a convicted murderer and war criminal.

In a bogus court.

[The_Squid]

In a bogus court.

Even if it's upheld, it doesn't matter. Torture is illegal regardless of the victim's legal status.

[bush_cheney2004]

As if that makes torture legal.... his "conviction" has no bearing on whether crimes were committed against him.

The on topic relevance is any attempt to charge and extradite from the USA. Sometimes nobody gives a damn.

[Topaz]

I thought he flew in to New York and its there he was stopped and sent oversea? Wrong?

[The_Squid]

I thought he flew in to New York and its there he was stopped and sent oversea? Wrong?

True.

The RCMP were the ones to provide erroneous (false, lies, untruths...) information that led to his detainment, deportation and torture. Hence the Canadian government's apology and payment. Plus the Commission of Inquiry.

Copy/paste from the report:

http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/206/301/pco-bcp/commissions/maher_arar/07-09-13/www.ararcommission.ca/eng/AR_English.pdf

• The RCMP provided American authorities with information, including the

entire database from the aforementioned terrorism investigation, in ways

that did not comply with RCMP policies requiring screening for relevance,

reliability and personal information. Some of the information related to

Mr. Arar.

• The RCMP provided American authorities with information about Mr. Arar

that was inaccurate, portrayed him in an unfairly negative fashion and overstated

his importance in the RCMP investigation.

• The RCMP provided American authorities with information about Mr. Arar

without attaching written caveats,2 as required by RCMP policy, thereby

increasing the risk that the information would be used for purposes of

which the RCMP would not approve, such as sending Mr. Arar to Syria.

• The RCMP requested that American authorities place lookouts for Mr. Arar

and his wife, Monia Mazigh, in U.S. Customs’ Treasury Enforcement

Communications System (TECS). In the request, to which no caveats were

attached, the RCMP described Mr. Arar and Dr, Mazigh as “Islamic Extremist

individuals suspected of being linked to the Al Qaeda terrorist movement.”3

The RCMP had no basis for this description, which had the potential to create

serious consequences for Mr. Arar in light of American attitudes and

practices at the time.

• Project A-O Canada was the front-line investigative unit in the RCMP that

conducted the investigation in which Mr. Arar was a person of interest, and

it was that unit that provided information about Mr. Arar to American agencies.

The RCMP, as an institution, gave Project A-O Canada unclear and, in

some instances, misleading direction concerning the manner in which

information should be shared, and failed to properly oversee the Project’s

investigation, including its information-sharing practices.