“Stop Unjust Extradition Proceedings”
In this issue:
- Critical Perspectives: Criminology and Social Justice – Panel Discussion on Extradition
- Press Conference in Reaction to Minister’s Surrender Decision
- Rabble.ca: Revelations in Hassan Diab Case Highlight Major Fault Lines in Extradition Process
- How You Can Help
1. Critical Perspectives: Criminology and Social Justice – Panel Discussion on Extradition
Event: Hassan Diab and his Possible Extradition to France: A Panel Discussion of the Issues
Date: Sunday May 6, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Place: Room 3101, Canal Building, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
The Canal Building is labelled ‘CB’ on the campus map: http://www1.carleton.ca/campus
Panel Chair:
• Maeve McMahon, Carleton University
Panelists:
• Hassan Diab
• Donald Bayne (Hassan’s lawyer)
• Matthew Behrens (Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada)
• Rania Tfaily (Carleton University)
The conference is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
For more information:
http://www5.carleton.ca/socanth/second-national-conference
2. Press Conference in Reaction to Minister’s Surrender Decision
In reaction to Minister Nicholson’s signing an order surrendering Dr. Hassan Diab to France, a press conference was held on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, on April 13.
Speakers at the press conference were Dr. Diab, Donald Bayne (Hassan Diab’s lawyer), and Matthew Behrens (Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada).
The speakers addressed the unjust and unconstitutional decision to surrender Hassan Diab to France, and in particular the newly revealed fact that the French have not laid charges against him. It is shocking that the Minister is prepared to hand a Canadian over to a foreign state for mere questioning and on mere suspicion, where he may languish for years in pre-trial detention. The speakers also addressed problems with Canada’s extradition law, and responded to questions from the media.
“This is not extradition to stand trial,” Mr. Bayne said. “France has admitted they have an incomplete case and in fact there may never be a trial or sufficient evidence to put him on trial. France wants this country to hand over a Canadian citizen to further an investigation. This has never been done in Canada.”
In his statement at the press conference, Dr. Diab said:
“I am innocent of the accusations against me. I have never engaged in terrorism.”
“I am not an anti-Semite. I have always been opposed to bigotry and violence.”
“My life has been turned upside down because of unfounded allegations and suspicions.”
“It would be a grave injustice to extradite me for a crime that even the evidence shows I did not commit.”
Justice Maranger’s decision last June to extradite Dr. Diab, and now Nicholson’s decision to surrender him to France, will become part of a joint appeal to the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
See also:
• Video of the Press Conference
• Ottawa Citizen article
• Globe and Mail article
3. Rabble.ca: Revelations in Hassan Diab Case Highlight Major Fault Lines in Extradition Process
“The multi-year extradition saga of Ottawa university professor Hassan Diab — sought by the French for his alleged role in a 1980 Paris bombing that claimed four lives — has taken yet another bizarre turn with the news that Diab has not even been formally charged. He is merely sought for questioning, with no guarantee that a trial would ensue.
Despite this astounding discovery — no doubt discomfiting to the Ontario judge who presided over Diab’s two-year extradition hearing — Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has signed a surrender order committing Diab to years of French detention without charge while the 32-year investigation into the crime continues.
It’s a decision that Diab’s lawyer, Don Bayne, says is unprecedented in Canadian history. But then again, nothing about the Diab case passes the judicial smell test. It would be an understatement at best to declare that Diab, who adamantly denies any involvement and condemns violence and anti-Semitism, is a victim of mistaken identity. Indeed, Diab’s finger and palm prints, handwriting, and physical description do not match those of the suspect, yet the case has ground on largely due to an arcane process that sacrifices the Charter rights of an individual to the politics of foreign relations…”
Read the full article:
“Taking Liberties: Revelations in Hassan Diab case highlight major faultlines in extradition process”
By Matthew Behrens
4. How You Can Help
DONATE to Hassan Diab’s legal defence. To donate, visit: http://www.justiceforhassandiab.org/donate
ORGANIZE an event or fundraiser around Hassan’s case. Contact diabsupport@gmail.com for information.
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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