I am Benamar Benatta’s lawyer. The circumstances of Benamar’s case are the worst I have ever heard. An innocent man, he was illegally transferred to the U.S. by Canadian officials on September 12, 2001 with nothing but prejudicial suspicions. He was locked away in the Metropolitian Detention Centre in Brooklyn under John Ashcroft’s insidious “preventative detention” regime. He was forgotten by Canada. He was tortured, abused and arbitrarily detained for nearly five years. Where do we even begin to obtain justice for Benamar?
Well, first of all, we need answers. We need to put pressure on the Canadian government to review the circumstances of Benamar’s illegal transfer. We need to call Canadian officials to account for their illegal actions. We need to reaffirm human rights principles and the rule of law. We need to make sure this never happens again.
I hope that when you read about Benamar’s case, you feel compelled to lend your voice in speaking out against the injustices he endured. Join the Benatta Coalition for a Public Review and post a comment of support. Benamar regularly views this site and your expressions of support mean more than words can describe.
Together, we will find the truth. In truth, there will be justice. That is what Benamar, and Canadians alike, deserve.
Nicole
As Nicole said, comments of support are very important. I’d like people to also know that we are working on a petition; our targets are Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Stockwell Day, who is the Minister for Public Safety. We’re working on an action message and goals. I would like to set a goal of “x” number of signatures on the petition, and of course I’d like to see the number substantially exceed the goal. What initial number of petitioners should we place as our goal? I worry that if I set it too high, we might not meet our goal, and if we set it too low, it may (or may not?) make them sit up straight and take notice. Any idea of what “x” should be?
Also this is just on the Canadian side. There are many Americans as well who have had it up to their back teeth with the abuse and torture that our government has been engaged in, both at home and abroad. In this case he was tortured on U.S. soil. I also understand that despite Canadian officials demanding that the U.S. take Maher Arar off the terrorist watchlist, they’ve refused to do so, despite that there was no charges brought against him and there were no links between Arar and terrorism (would that the same could be said about U.S. officials).
So in that vein, I’d like to also start a petition for Americans to sign. I’m having a little trouble figuring out who our targets should be. I would like to come up with someone by tomorrow. Time is of the essence. I will have to wake up early tomorrow and start making some phone calls.
Ruschia