An Egyptian refugee suspected of being a terrorist with links to Osama bin Laden said Tuesday that his human rights have been violated repeatedly by prison guards during the four years he's been behind bars in Canada. Mohammad Mahjoub told a Federal Court bail hearing that his time at the Toronto West Detention Centre has been spent in constant fear, especially after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. He described his life after Sept. 11, 2001 as "something like hell." Four days after the attacks, Mahjoub was moved to solitary confinement, where he said his request for a blanket was met with a guard banging on the iron door of the cell and screaming obscenities. "'You are a (expletive) Muslim terrorist; we will kill all Muslims in the world,"' Mahjoub said the guard shouted through the door. He said he was terrified by the banging, which "sounded like an earthquake."
Mahjoub recounted an earlier episode in which he asked to be allowed to keep his underwear on during a strip search in March 2001. "That guard exploded with anger," Mahjoub said. "He was calling names against me, my religion, my family, against Muslims in general. He yelled: 'You should be killed, not just you, but all Muslims."' Mahjoub had previously refused to testify in public about the alleged abuses and had asked for a closed hearing with Judge Eleanor Dawson. Dawson refused the request, saying public testimony would promote public discussion of important issues and might prevent wrongdoing by placing those responsible for the conditions under public scrutiny. "We have had the benefit of reflection and Mr. Mahjoub fully understands the risks he is facing," his lawyer, John Norris, told court.
Mahjoub, 44, has been detained since June 2000, when he was accused of being involved with the Vanguards of Conquest, a militant organization that wants to overthrow the Egyptian government. He is one of five Canadians taken into custody by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service under a security certificate and tried on secret evidence. Under such arrests, the government can hold people indefinitely on secret evidence if they persuade a judge the suspect is a threat to Canadian security. Mahjoub is asking Dawson to release him from detention, where he says his human and religious rights are violated every day. His lawyers have also submitted an application to Dawson to hear a plea that Mahjoub not be deported to Egypt because he could be tortured. That will not be considered until Wednesday, Dawson said. |