Press Conference on Wednesday May 12, 2021, 10:00 am Eastern Time

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You are invited to an online press conference on Wednesday May 12, 2021, at 10:00 am Eastern Time, to hear about the latest developments in Dr. Hassan Diab’s case. On this day, France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, will hear an appeal from Hassan’s lawyers regarding the shocking and deeply troubling flaws in the January 27, 2021, French Court of Appeal’s decision.

What: Press conference reacting to the latest developments in Dr. Hassan Diab’s case
When: Wednesday 12 May, 2021, at 10:00 am Eastern Time

Speakers will include:

  • Don Bayne, Hassan’s Canadian lawyer
  • Roger Clark, member of the Hassan Diab Support Committee
  • Ihsaan Gardee, Director of Programs and Communications, Amnesty International Canada
  • Tim McSorley (National Coordinator, International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICLMG)

Amnesty International Canada will provide a livestream of the press conference. You can access the livestream directly through the Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/amnestycanada/videos

In its decision, the Court of Appeal misrepresented evidence, misstated facts, relied on discredited evidence, made up non-existent evidence, and engaged in contradictory reasoning and troubling analysis based on unfounded speculation.

Here’s a link to Don Bayne’s memos detailing the shocking flaws in the French Court of Appeal’s decision:

http://www.justiceforhassandiab.org/bayne-memos-2021-05

Video

Michelle Weinroth has written and produced this deeply moving poem about Hassan’s case (Music: “Adora Vivos”):

“Act now, Sir, and put an end to this tale of sorrow”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DzKReAJtms

Background

Dr. Hassan Diab is a Canadian sociology professor whose life has been turned upside down by false allegations of involvement in a bombing in Paris in 1980. Dr. Diab was extradited from Canada to France in 2014 based on a deeply flawed handwriting analysis (the “Bisotti report”) of five words in block letters on a hotel registration card. Five of the world’s leading handwriting experts criticized the Bisotti report as totally unreliable.

For over three years, Hassan languished in solitary confinement in a French prison, without formal charges or trial. In January 2018, Hassan was released from prison following the decision of two French investigative judges (juges d’instruction). They found that there is consistent evidence that Hassan was in Lebanon taking exams at the time of the 1980 bombing, in addition to significant evidence (fingerprints and palm prints) exculpating Hassan. Soon after, Hassan returned to his family and home in Canada.

However, the French state prosecutor and civil parties were determined to keep the case going, rather than admit their wrongful pursuit of an innocent man. They filed an appeal against the investigative judges’ Order of Dismissal.

On January 27, 2021, a French Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the investigative judges and ordered Hassan to stand trial, even though evidence against him had been entirely discredited. According to the French newspaper Le Monde, the Court of Appeal decision is exceptional, because never before, in terrorism cases, had a Court of Appeal opposed the investigating judges.

Hassan’s French lawyers have appealed to the Court of Cassation, France’s highest court, which will hear their appeal on May 12, 2021. In the meantime, the French avocat général has asked the Court of Cassation to quash the Court of Appeal decision referring Hassan Diab to trial, because of contradictions in its reasoning and failure to address issues raised by the defence.

At the press conference on May 12, speakers will comment on the latest developments in Dr. Hassan Diab’s case and the shocking and deeply troubling flaws in the January 27, 2021, Court of Appeal decision.

The Canadian government must refuse a potential second request for Hassan’s extradition to France, and put an immediate end to this continuing miscarriage of justice.

Hassan Diab Support Committee
diabsupport@gmail.com

Hassan Diab’s French Lawyers Appeal to the Court of Cassation

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Thank you for your support following the shockingly unjust decision on 27 January 2021 by a French Court of Appeal to refer Dr. Hassan Diab to trial. This comes three years after French investigating judges found consistent evidence of Hassan’s innocence and dismissed the case in 2018.

According to the French newspaper Le Monde, the Court of Appeal’s decision is exceptional, because never before, in terrorism cases, had a Court of Appeal opposed the investigating judges. The decision flies in the face of overwhelming evidence of Hassan’s innocence and offers Hassan as an innocent scapegoat. Hassan’s French lawyers point to the immense political pressure being applied to keep the case alive.

Hassan’s French lawyers have appealed to the Court of Cassation, France’s highest court, which will hear the case on May 12, 2021.

Statements by Organisations Supporting Hassan Diab

The list of civil society and human rights organisations standing in solidarity with Hassan Diab continues to grow. Organisations are urging the Canadian government to intervene, end Hassan’s Kafkaesque nightmare of injustice, and refuse a potential second extradition request from France.

Statements from organisations can be found at:
https://www.justiceforhassandiab.org/orgs-support-following-french-appeal-court-decision-20210127

Please Write to PM Trudeau and Major Newspapers

Following the French Court of Appeal decision, numerous organizations and individuals have spoken out in support of Hassan (see links below).

We urge you to add your voice by writing to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging the Canadian government to refuse a potential second extradition request from France, and to put an immediate end to this continuing miscarriage of justice.

Your letter can be brief and from the heart. Please address your letter to:
        Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pm@pm.gc.ca

and copy the following politicians:
        chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca
        marc.garneau@parl.gc.ca
        David.Lametti@parl.gc.ca

Also, please share your correspondence with us at diabsupport@gmail.com

Also please consider submitting op-eds or letters to the editors of major newspapers voicing your concerns.

Many thanks to those who have already written. We greatly appreciate your support and invite you to keep urging the Canadian government to protect Hassan Diab.

Donate to Hassan Diab’s Legal Defence in France

Please consider making a donation to help cover the cost of Hassan’s ongoing legal defence in France. Your support is vital to protect Hassan’s rights and prevent his wrongful conviction. A donation of any amount is much appreciated and can make a difference.

So far, we have raised CAD $28,251 out of CAD $37,000 (or 25,000 Euros) to cover legal fees. 100% of all donations go towards paying for Hassan’s legal defence in France.

To donate, please visit: https://www.justiceforhassandiab.org/donate

Many thanks if you have already contributed. We greatly appreciate your generous support!

Recent Video and Articles

Thank you for your continued support!

Hassan Diab Support Committee

Why Canada must stand clearly behind
Hassan Diab

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Why hasn’t the federal government firmly taken a position to stop any prospect of a new extradition?
By Yavar Hameed

“Canada’s response to the French Court of Appeal’s January 2021 decision to proceed to trial against Ottawa sociology professor Hassan Diab has been ambiguous. Diab, who spent three years in a French prison, returned to Canada in 2018 after all charges were dismissed against him by designated French anti-terrorism judges…

It’s clear why Canada must unequivocally stop any potential extradition process for Diab to face the “weak” charges that have been reinvoked by the French Court of Appeal.

First, the evidence against Diab has previously been found not to be sufficient to proceed to trial at a Court d’assise by anti-terrorism judges who are specialized in assessing the merit of anti-terrorism prosecutions. So, France had already taken a good long look at its case for more than a decade and decided it was inadequate to go to trial.

Second, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has previously found the evidence against Diab to be “weak” and in particular, that “ … the prospects of conviction in the context of a fair trial, seem unlikely.” As a corollary to this problem, the political decision to allow an extradition of Diab would be for Canada to subject its citizen to an outcome which offends Canada’s own standards of legal fairness and would also not advance the public interest.

Third, the Court of Appeal’s decision is based on the same old case against Diab. There is no indication that any new information has surfaced that would materially alter, cast doubt upon or suggest that there was some error in fact or in law by the anti-terrorism judges who originally dismissed the charges against Diab. According to Diab’s Canadian lawyer, the appeal “flies in the face of existing evidence”…

The litmus test for when human rights are shown to matter is when they are defended despite the inconvenience of doing so. For Canada, this means taking a clear, unequivocal and principled position against Diab’s extradition, even when doing so might offend the nuances of diplomatic relations between Canada and France.”

Read the full piece in The Ottawa Citizen

Extraditing Hassan Diab a second time
would be a travesty

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By Mira Sucharov and Bernie Farber

“The freedom of one Canadian citizen is again being threatened, and with it, the integrity of Canadian democracy. With formal charges having been laid against a Canadian citizen by France, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ability to stand up in the face of injustice – and in the face of a bullying ally – is again being put to the test…

Some might argue that a criminal trial is the best place for Mr. Diab to finally prove his innocence. And others might point to the Segal report of 2019, which exonerated Canada for acceding to the 2014 extradition request. Those people might suggest that Mr. Trudeau should grant France’s request for an extradition if and when the time comes. But here’s the thing. Democracies must refuse an extradition request if there are serious concerns about the likelihood of a fair trial. Enough evidence in Mr. Diab’s ordeal – particularly evidence that came to light after the 2014 extradition – persuades us that he very well may not receive a fair trial in France…

We agree with Mr. Trudeau’s words that such a travesty should not happen again. Given the questionable methods of the French prosecution going back over a decade, we call on the Canadian government to protect this Canadian citizen and refuse any request for his extradition.”

Read the full piece in The Globe and Mail

Français: Extrader Hassan Diab une seconde fois serait une parodie de justice

Hassan Diab’s long odyssey of injustice continues

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We are shocked and outraged by the French Court of Appeal decision on 27 January 2021 to refer Dr. Hassan Diab’s case to trial, three years after a lower court set him free because of overwhelming evidence of his innocence. The decision of the Court of Appeal is the continuation of a long odyssey of injustice that Hassan and his family have endured for more than 12 years. Hassan’s French lawyers plan to appeal the decision to France’s Supreme Court.

In 2018, French investigating judges dismissed the case and released Hassan from prison due to lack of evidence. Since then, the case has only grown weaker in light of further exonerating evidence. Another handwriting analysis commissioned by the French Court of Appeal delivered a scathing critique and rebuke of the “Bisotti report” that was used to extradite Hassan from Canada in 2014. Witnesses and documents prove that Hassan was in Lebanon writing his university exams at the time of the 1980 bombing. Hassan’s fingerprints, palm prints and physical description do not match those of the suspect.

After more than 40 years and since no one was indicted, the French Court of Appeal is clinging onto Hassan Diab to keep the case going. The victims of the 1980 Rue Copernic bombing and their families deserve justice, but this cannot be achieved by subjecting an innocent man to a trial. French authorities would better serve the victims and their families by trying to find the true perpetrators of this awful crime.

We are preparing a letter-writing campaign urging the Canadian government to put an end to Hassan Diab’s long and Kafkaesque ordeal. You will soon receive information about this and other actions we are planning.

Hassan, his wife, and children have suffered enough. As the long odyssey of injustice continues, we must continue the fight!

Please Donate to Hassan’s Legal Defence in France

Please make a donation to help cover the cost of Hassan’s ongoing legal defence in France. Your support is vital to protect Hassan’s rights and prevent his wrongful conviction. A donation of any amount is much appreciated and can make a difference!

To donate, please visit the following, page and choose from one of the various ways to donate.

https://www.justiceforhassandiab.org/donate

Recent Articles and Statements

Hassan Diab Support Committee
Web: http://www.justiceforhassandiab.org
Email: diabsupport@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/justiceforhassandiab
Twitter: https://twitter.com/justiceforhdiab