In this issue:
Dr. Hassan Diab Released on Bail
After 18 months in pre-trial detention in France for a crime he did not commit, a French judge released Dr. Hassan Diab on bail on May 14, 2016.
The prosecutor has filed an appeal of Hassan’s release, which will be heard by an appeal court early next week. His French lawyer, Mr. William Bourdon, said Hassan will be in court for next week’s appeal, effectively negating the prosecution grounds for returning him to jail.
Mr. Bourdon said, “He [Hassan] will be present at the next hearing so this will prove to the court of appeal that he never intended to flee, as was the case in the whole extradition procedure in Canada.”
In 2011, when the Canadian extradition judge ruled in favor of extradition, he described the evidence as “very problematic” and “suspect”. In an unprecedented move, the Canadian judge stated that “the prospects of conviction in the context of a fair trial seem unlikely”. However the judge said that he felt obliged under Canada’s extradition law to commit Hassan to extradition.
Hassan and his family express their sincere gratitude to their friends and supporters who have stood by them since his ordeal began in Canada in 2008.
For more information, see Ottawa Citizen Article:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/french-judge-orders-terror-accused-diabs-release
May 20: Sneak Preview of Short Documentary on Dr. Hassan Diab
If you live in Ottawa, don’t miss a sneak preview of the short documentary on Dr. Hassan Diab, directed by award-winning filmmaker Amar Wala.
Please come out, watch the short documentary, and hear the latest updates from Hassan’s lawyer in Canada, Mr. Donald Bayne. There will be plenty of time for Q&A.
What: Sneak preview of short documentary on Dr. Hassan Diab
Date: Friday May 20, 2016
Time: 7:00 pm (Doors open at 6:45 pm)
Place: First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, 30 Cleary Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario (off Richmond Road, one traffic light East of Woodroffe Avenue)
Program includes:
- Guest Speaker: Mr. Donald Bayne (Hassan’s lawyer in Canada)
- Hear Baraa Arar present some of her own powerful poems
- Hassan’s wife, Rania, and their two children will be happy to meet you!
- There will be refreshments and yummy finger foods.
Please contact us at diabsupport@gmail.com if you would like to arrange a public screening of the documentary to inform your community about Hassan’s case.
Hassan Diab Support Committee
Email: diabsupport@gmail.com
Web: http://www.justiceforhassandiab.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/justiceforhassandiab
Twitter: http://twitter.com/justiceforhdiab
Blog: http://friendsofhassandiab.blogspot.com
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