One Year on From French Court INJUSTICE, Hassan Diab Remains Unprotected and in Limbo

One year ago, on 21 April 2023, the Special Court of Assize in Paris unjustly declared Canadian citizen Hassan Diab guilty, based on unfounded allegations and flawed intelligence that is not allowed in a Canadian court. He was sentenced in absentia to life in prison for a crime he did not commit: the 1980 bombing outside a Paris synagogue.

Driven by political pressure to scapegoat an innocent man, the Special Court of Assize trial ignored exonerating evidence and the alibi firmly establishing Dr. Diab’s presence in Beirut, Lebanon, at the time of the tragic 1980 attack. The prosecutors were allowed to vilify the accused, filibuster, and steal the defense’s speaking time. The court had no transcripts or other recording of the event.

In a mind-boggling irony, the Court of Assize in 2023 relied on the intelligence that France had withdrawn from the Canadian extradition hearing in 2011 to declare him guilty, AND discarded the handwriting analysis that was used to commit him to extradition in 2014 due to its unreliability.

In short, the intelligence which was withdrawn from the extradition proceedings more than a decade ago became France’s basis for sentencing Hassan Diab to life in prison in 2023. Meanwhile, the handwriting analysis that was used to extradite him was discarded by the Special Court of Assize. In essence, France and Canada cancelled each other’s grounds for inculpating Hassan Diab.

Dr. Hassan Diab continues to be subjected to a prolonged and unjust ordeal created by Canada and France. The French court’s declaration of guilt one year ago prolongs the suffering of Hassan and his family. The Canadian government must say NO to a second extradition request from France (whether already submitted or to be submitted).

Read the full media notice.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Featured Video: Roger Clark invites you to sign our new petition:
https://youtu.be/BwgMiooWe9Q

Petition in English:
https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4901

Pétition en français:
https://noscommunes.ca/petitions/fr/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4901

The petition will close for signatures on June 10, 2024, at 1:10 pm (EDT).
Please distribute widely!

Please Phone Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Urging Him to Protect Hassan Diab

Please take a few minutes to phone Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and urge him to protect Dr. Hassan Diab and refuse any request from France for Hassan’s extradition.

Here is PM Trudeau’s contact information:

      Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
      Hill Office – House of Commons:
      Phone: 1 (613) 992-4211

      Constituency Office (Montreal, Quebec):
      Phone: 1 (514) 277-6020

When you call, you will probably be transferred to leave your message on an answering machine. Please, leave a polite message, and say your name, town/province, and phone number.

Here is the KEY MESSAGE we want to communicate to the Prime Minister:

  • Canada must protect Hassan Diab and say No to any request from France for his extradition.

Here are some additional things you may wish to say:

  • The government has a moral obligation to protect Hassan.
  • In 2018, Hassan was released after two experienced French investigative judges determined that there was no evidence linking him to the 1980 attack.
  • In declaring Hassan guilty, the French Court of Assize ignored all exonerating evidence and relied on flawed intelligence information that is not allowed in a Canadian Court.
  • Hassan’s fingerprints and palm prints do not match those of the suspect.
  • Hassan and his family have suffered long enough.
  • I am very concerned that France is scapegoating Hassan Diab for a crime he did not commit.
  • Honour the words you said in 2018: “What happened to Hassan Diab never should have happened”, and make sure that it never happens again!

Background

Hassan Diab is a Canadian sociology professor who has taught at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. He was wrongfully extradited from Canada to France in 2014 for his alleged involvement in a bombing outside a Paris synagogue in 1980.

After spending over three years in a French prison, two French investigative magistrates found no evidence to send him to trial and released him unconditionally. Dr. Diab returned to his home in Canada in 2018. However, the French prosecutor appealed his release and, on April 21, 2023, Dr. Diab was sentenced in absentia to life in prison.

With this devastating development, it is urgent that we raise awareness about Hassan’s case and protect him from another wrongful extradition to France and life imprisonment for a crime he did not commit.

Thank you for your support!

Hassan Diab Awareness Event,
Carleton University, Ottawa, March 20, 2024

You are invited to a public event at Carleton University in Ottawa.

  • What : HASSAN DIAB AWARENESS EVENT
  • When : Wednesday March 20, 2024, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Eastern Time
  • Where: Room 282, Nideyinàn (formerly the University Centre), Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario – https://carleton.ca/campus/map/#NN

SPEAKERS:

  • Hassan Diab – Sociology professor who has taught at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa
  • Roger Clark – Former Secretary General of the Canadian Section of Amnesty International
  • Michelle Weinroth – Writer and teacher living in Ottawa
  • And other special guests

If you cannot attend in person, please join via Zoom.

ZOOM LINK:
https://carleton-ca.zoom.us/j/92695419052?pwd=cFRhMzhyNUVzdGhKcmVsZlNrNWk4dz09
Meeting ID: 926 9541 9052
Passcode: 24689

DETAILS:

  • Learn about Dr. Hassan Diab’s case and the latest developments.
  • Participate in activities in support of Hassan.
  • Contribute to an art piece.
  • Light refreshments will be provided.

SPONSORED BY:

  • Carleton University Students in the “Community-Engaged Sociology” class, Winter 2024

Background

Hassan Diab is a Canadian sociology professor who has taught at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. He was wrongfully extradited from Canada to France in 2014 for his alleged involvement in a bombing outside a Paris synagogue in 1980.

After spending over three years in a French prison, two French investigative magistrates found no evidence to send him to trial and released him unconditionally. Dr. Diab returned to his home in Canada in 2018. However, the French prosecutor appealed his release and, on April 21, 2023, Dr. Diab was sentenced in absentia to life in prison.

With this devastating development, it is urgent that we raise awareness about Hassan’s case and protect him from another wrongful extradition to France and life imprisonment for a crime he did not commit.

Please distribute widely!

“Hassan Diab: Justice Denied” – Webinar held on Sunday January 28, 2024


Presentation by Hassan Diab


Presentation by Don Pratt


Presentation by Roger Clark

Presentation by Michelle Weinroth

On January 28, 2024, an online (Zoom) webinar was held to mark the 6th anniversary of Dr. Hassan Diab‘s unconditional release from a French prison in January of 2018.

Hassan Diab is a Canadian sociology professor wrongfully accused and declared guilty of a bombing near a Paris synagogue in 1980. Dr. Diab was fully exonerated and returned unconditionally to Canada in January 2018, after two French investigative judges determined that there was no evidence linking him to the bombing. However, due to political pressure, French prosecutor appealed his release, and despite a wealth of evidence exonerating Hassan, he was declared guilty by the Special Court of Assize in Paris in April 2023.

Webinar speakers were:

  • Hassan Diab, a Canadian citizen and sociology professor who lives in Ottawa.
  • Don Pratt, founding member of the Hassan Diab Support Committee.
  • Roger Clark, former Secretary General of the Canadian Section of Amnesty International.
  • Michelle Weinroth, writer and teacher living in Ottawa.

Direct link to full video of presentations: https://youtu.be/En3nJkSx4QU

Join the Webinar, “Hassan Diab: Justice Denied”, on January 28, 2024, 3:00 PM ET

The Hassan Diab Support Committee and Independent Jewish Voices Canada invite you to a webinar featuring Dr. Hassan Diab and members of his support committee.

Webinar (on Zoom): “Hassan Diab: Justice Denied”
Date and Time: Sunday January 28, 2024, 3:00 PM Eastern Time

To register:
https://ijvcanada.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lkteYr7XTLmKHOtiIj6oTw#/registration
(The webinar is open to the public. After you register, you will receive an email with the Zoom link.)

Join us and learn about the human rights implications of Hassan’s case and how it has impacted Hassan and his family. Presenters will provide a brief overview of the case since it started in 2007, including the April 2023 French trial in absentia and developments since then. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss strategies for justice for Hassan in 2024.