[Fdu] Carleton University's Dr. Hassan Diab Set to be Released from Prison in France

[Cynthia Wright]

**
*PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

French Investigative Judges Dismiss Allegations; Dr. Hassan Diab Set to 
be Released from Prison in France

12 January 2018, Ottawa –*Today, Judges Jean-Marc Herbaut and Richard 
Foltzer (/“Juges d’instruction anti-terroristes”/) dismissed the 
allegations against Dr. Hassan Diab and ordered his immediate release 
from detention. An overwhelming body of evidence shows Dr. Diab cannot 
have been in France in 1980 when the attack was perpetrated, as many 
elements confirm he was in Beirut during that period of time. The 
decision also notably underlines the numerous contradictions and 
misstatements contained in the intelligence which cast serious doubts 
about their reliability, as well as the fact that Dr. Diab’s 
handwriting, fingerprints, palm prints, physical description, and age do 
not match those of the suspect identified in 1980.

After more than three years in solitary confinement in a French prison, 
Dr. Diab is set to be released from detention today.

Dr. Diab’s lawyers in France, William Bourdon, Apolline Cagnat, and 
Amélie Lefebvre, stated that “This decision in such a serious terrorism 
case is exceptional. It must remind us that the acknowledgement of a 
suspect’s innocence in a terrorism case is always a long road but can be 
obtained with relentless work. The decision is founded on the 
demonstration of the impossibility to attribute to Hassan Diab any 
responsibility in the attack, as we have not ceased to claim. The 
respect owed to the victims and their legitimate need for justice must 
not be confused with the prosecutor’s obstinacy whose potential appeal 
would be completely contrary to the law and facts.”

Don Bayne, Dr. Diab’s lawyer in Canada, remarked, “We're elated, 
relieved and thankful. Thankful to the French judges for their wisdom 
and courage to buck political and social pressure to make a completely 
just decision, something that we believe the courts in Canada failed to 
do at every level. Thankful that Dr. Diab's wife, Rania Tfaily, led the 
fight for justice with such dignity and perseverance. Thankful to 
Minister Freeland, Sam Moyer, Maria Lamani, and others at Global Affairs 
Canada for their genuine and impressive support to a Canadian who never 
should have been extradited. And thankful for the efforts of the 
wonderful Canadians who make up the Hassan Diab Support Committee. We 
would add this - now is the time for the Justice Minister, indeed the 
Prime Minister, to order a complete review of the Extradition Act and 
procedures that led to years of injustice for an innocent Canadian. How 
could Canada have extradited a Canadian to France when France never, 
never had a case against Dr. Diab fit to go to trial? How? Because of 
Canada's Extradition Act, of the procedures it enables to strip 
Canadians of liberty unjustly. This Canadian was extradited on 
overwhelmingly unreliable evidence yet every Canadian court allowed this 
to happen. So while we are thankful and relieved that justice has been 
served, we must ensure the system is corrected so that no other Canadian 
experiences what Dr. Diab has.”

*Background
*
Dr. Hassan Diab is a Canadian citizen and sociology professor who lived 
in Ottawa. He was extradited from Canada to France in November 2014 even 
though the Canadian extradition judge Robert Maranger described the 
evidence presented against Dr. Hassan Diab as “very problematic”, 
“convoluted”, “illogical”, and “suspect”. However, given the low 
threshold of evidence in Canada’s extradition law, the judge felt 
compelled to order Hassan Diab's extradition in November 2014.

Four French judges have ordered Dr. Diab’s conditional release eight 
times in the last 20 months, most recently in November 2017. However, 
each time the Paris prosecutor appealed, and the French Court of Appeal 
overturned the release orders due to the political climate in France.

Dr. Diab has a lifelong record of opposition to bigotry and 
discrimination, as attested by family, long-time friends, and 
colleagues.  He has always maintained his innocence and strongly 
condemned the 1980 crime. He has unequivocally stated that “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 have never participated in any terrorist attacks. I am not 
an anti-Semite.”

Dr. Diab has the support of thousands of individuals and organisations 
in Canada and around the world.


*For more information:
*
Roger Clark
Hassan Diab Support Committee
(613) 355-2623 <tel:%28613%29%20355-2623>
diabsupport at gmail.com <mailto:diabsupport at gmail.com>
http://www.justiceforhassandiab.org <http://www.justiceforhassandiab.org/>




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