[Fdu] Sep 27: Evening with Dr. Hassan Diab

[Cynthia Wright]

Dear FDU listserv Colleagues,
Some of you may remember the case of former Carleton professor, Dr. Hassan Diab. (If not, background info is below on a case that has attracted the attention of groups such as Amnesty International and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association). I strongly encourage you to come to this event and circulate the notice to your networks. Friday, September 27, 7pm. Beit Zatoun. 
Best,
--Cynthia


https://www.facebook.com/events/376513172480280/

Subject: Kafka Revisited: An Evening with Hassan Diab, Friday Sep 27, 7:00 PM

You are cordially invited to an event hosted by the Hassan Diab Support Committee. This is a special opportunity to meet Dr. Hassan Diab, learn about the Kafkaesque situation he has faced since 2008, and hear about the latest developments in his extradition case. Hassan’s appeal of the extradition decision will be heard by the Ontario Court of Appeal in Toronto on November 4 and 5, 2013.

Event: “Kafka Revisited: An Evening with Dr. Hassan Diab”
Date: Friday September 27, 2013
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Place: Beit Zatoun House, 612 Markham Street, Toronto, Ontario

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/16ExP
TTC: Bathurst station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line (exit to Markham Street)

Speakers at the event:

  a.. Hassan Diab – Hear from the man who has been facing Kafkaesque extradition proceedings since 2008.

  b.. Barbara Jackman – Attorney and human rights advocate, specializing in cases involving national security and domestic and international human rights issues.

  c.. Daniel Sheppard – Attorney and member of Hassan’s legal team. His interests include international human rights and international criminal law.

The evening will also feature:

  a.. Live musical entertainment

  b.. Poetry reading

  c.. Raffle and silent auction

  d.. Complimentary snacks and refreshments 

Admission is free. All are welcome. Bring your family and friends!

Background Information


“My life has been turned upside down because of unfounded allegations and suspicions. 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.”


Dr. Hassan Diab, speaking at a press conference in Ottawa, Canada

Dr. Hassan Diab is a Canadian citizen and sociology professor in Ottawa who has been living a Kafkaesque nightmare since November 2008. France is seeking his extradition to question him regarding a bombing in Paris in 1980. Hassan is not charged with any crime, yet he has been living under very strict bail conditions that include paying $2,000 per month for a GPS device he is required to wear at all times.

In 2011, a Canadian judge decided to commit Dr. Diab to extradition based solely on a handwriting analysis report that alleges that Hassan’s handwriting matches five words on a Paris hotel registration card from 1980. Five internationally renowned handwriting experts testified that the report is based on fundamentally flawed methodology and is patently unreliable and biased. The extradition judge himself described the handwriting analysis report as “very problematic”, “very confusing”, “convoluted”, and with “conclusions that are suspect”. Yet the judge ruled that he is required under Ontario's interpretation of Canada’s extradition law to commit Dr. Diab for extradition.

Hassan is appealing the extradition decision. The appeal will be heard by the Ontario Court of Appeal in Toronto on November 4 and 5, 2013. Amnesty International, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have filed interventions with the court, expressing their deep concerns about Hassan’s case.

Dr. Diab’s case points to glaring problems with Canada’s extradition law. In extradition cases, the Charter rights of the person sought are severely compromised. Canadian standards of evidence do not apply. The standard for extradition is so low that Canada hands people over to other countries based on evidence that is not acceptable in Canadian courts. Canada has extradition treaties with countries that allow secret intelligence, including intelligence that may have been the product of torture, to be used as evidence at trial. Evidence submitted by the foreign country is presumed reliable. In addition, foreign countries may cherry-pick what evidence to present to Canada, and need not disclose any exculpatory evidence. For example, at the extradition hearing, Hassan was not allowed to introduce evidence showing that his finger and palm prints do not match those of the presumed bomber.

In a report submitted to the UN Committee against Torture, 48th Session, May 2012, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) wrote:

        “CCLA is concerned that an individual could be ordered for committal on the basis of evidence characterized as “weak”, “confusing”, “convoluted”, and “unlikely” to result in conviction in a fair trial. How is committal based on such evidence reconciled with the rights to liberty, due process and fair trial – protected in our Charter and in international law?”
Every citizen should be concerned about this grave injustice. If it can happen to Hassan, it can happen to any one of us. Please help us mount a public campaign to reform Canada’s unfair extradition law and support Dr. Hassan Diab.

Media Articles

Ottawa Citizen article: 
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/8612960/story.html 

Rabble.ca article:
http://rabble.ca/columnists/2012/04/taking-liberties-revelations-hassan-diab-case-highlight-major-faultlines-extradit 

------------------------------------------------------------- 
Hassan Diab Support Committee 
Web: http://www.justiceforhassandiab.org 
Email: diabsupport at gmail.com 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofhassandiab 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/friendsofhdiab 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://listserv.physics.utoronto.ca/pipermail/fdu/attachments/20130907/508974f8/attachment.html