On June 7, 2023, the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST) released a report entitled, “Reforming Canada’s Extradition System”:
https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/JUST/report-13
The JUST report is based on hearings conducted in February 2023, when the Committee heard from a number of witnesses including Donald Bayne (legal counsel for Dr. Hassan Diab), Rania Tfaily (Hassan’s spouse and Associate Professor at Carleton University), Tim McSorley (National Coordinator, International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group), Alex Neve (former Secretary General for Amnesty Canada), Robert J. Currie (Professor of Law at Dalhousie University), Matthew Behrens (social justice advocate), and others, about the injustices of Canada’s Extradition Act.
Hassan Diab’s case was highlighted in the JUST report as a shocking example of the shortcomings of Canada’s Extradition Act. The report includes 20 recommendations for reforming Canada’s Extradition Act. It is our sincere hope that the Canadian Government will take up the proposed reforms as soon as possible.
Open Letter Signed by Members of the Canadian Legal Community
On June 8, an Open Letter, signed by more than 130 members of the Canadian legal community – including law professors, retired judges, practicing and retired lawyers, and legal researchers from across the country – was delivered to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
https://iclmg.ca/diab-lawyers-letter-2023 (English)
https://iclmg.ca/fr/lettre-communaute-juridique-diab-2023 (French)
The letter urges the Canadian government to refuse any request for Hassan Diab’s extradition and summarizes the numerous, mounting grave concerns about fairness and human rights violations that have marked every stage of Hassan Diab’s case. The letter also reminds the Prime Minister of his comments in 2018, after Hassan returned to Canada, when he stated that what had happened to Hassan “never should have happened” and that steps would be taken to “make sure that it never happens again.”
Read: Press release about the Open Letter signed by members of the Canadian legal community
Open Letter: Say “No” to a Second Extradition for Hassan Diab
On June 15, another letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, sponsored by Michelle Weinroth and endorsed by Just Peace Advocates, was delivered to the PM:
“Prime Minister Trudeau: Say ‘No’ to a second extradition for Hassan Diab!”
https://rabble.ca/politics/canadian-politics/prime-minister-trudeau-say-no-to-a-second-extradition-for-hassan-diab
The letter has now garnered signatures from over 526 individuals – activists, academics, lawyers, faith leaders, authors, and others – and 27+ organizations.
An updated letter will be sent to both the PM and Justice Minister David Lametti, so that they are both aware that the number of signatories has risen dramatically and continues to rise with each passing day. If you would like to add your name to the letter, you can access a Google form to fill out at the link below. The form asks for your name, self-description/title, location, and email.
https://bit.ly/HassanDiabLetter
Sign the Petition to PM Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must honor his words from June 2018 and refuse any future request from France for the extradition of Hassan Diab. Your support is vital to protect the rights of people in Canada against unjust prosecution and violation of fundamental rights.
The petition has close to 10,000 signatures. We plan to deliver the petition to the Prime Minister soon. Please sign it, if you haven’t done so already, and share it far and wide!
Petition in English: https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/pm-trudeau-protect-hassan-diab-from-further-injustice-say-no-to-another-extradition
Pétition en Français: https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/pm-trudeau-protegez-hassan-diab-de-toute-nouvelle-injustice-dites-non-a-une-deuxieme-extradition
Thank you for your continued support!
Hassan Diab Support Committee
Email: diabsupport@gmail.com