Mohamed Harkat facing deportation to Algeria

[Al-khiyal]

Harkat finally released on bail

[Al-khiyal]

"You could see his face glowing. He looks better than ever. Way better than when I married him."

'Surreal' reunion for terror suspect, wife

[Al-khiyal]

Harkat fears torture, death if deported to Algeria

[Al-khiyal]

Harkat says life since detention has been nightmare

[Al-khiyal]

Algerian envoy calls torture fears 'unfounded'

[Al-khiyal]

The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed government attempts Thursday to send suspected terrorist sympathizer Mohamed Harkat back to jail.

A three-judge panel chided the government for being too slow in dealing with Harkat's case, adding that the three years he had spent in jail without being charged represented an "unjustifiably long time." The Crown had appealed Harkat's release from prison in May under number of stringent bail conditions. The court did allow a review of those conditions.

Harkat was jailed under a security certificate based on government accusations that he had ties to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.

The court made its decision without hearing arguments from Harkat's lawyers.

"The court found the appeal had no merit. We weren't asked to present arguments. That happens when a case has no merit," said Matt Webber, a Harkat lawyer.

A beaming Harkat said he could not understand why the government appealed his release given the restrictions he's under.

The former Ottawa pizza delivery man is primarily confined to his house and must where an electronic ankle bracelet that tracks his every movement.

"I don't know why the goverment wants to put me in jail. I am already in jail," Harkat said after the hearing.

Government lawyers had argued Harkat should return to jail because police can't translate his Arabic telephone conversations in a timely manner. Authorities are monitoring his phone calls.

The Crown also said the electronic monitoring device he must wear as part of his bail condition is liable to fail in underground parking lots and tunnels.

It argued that because his wife Sophie Harkat could not control her husband's past gambling problem, she wouldn't be able to help ensure he meets his bail undertakings. Sophie Harkat said that showed the weakness in the Crown's appeal.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service says the 37-year-old Algerian is an Islamic radical and bin Laden collaborator.

But Harkat denies any involvement in terrorism and says being sent to his native country would put his life in danger. The government is considering whether or not Harkat should be deported.

The Algerian embassy maintains that Harkat is not wanted in Algeria and that his life would not be in danger there.

"It is perfectly normal for for him to want to defend himself in the Canadian justice system against the accusations he faces, but he should not do that by invoking fallacious arguments which are not in keeping with the Algeria of today," the embassy said in a statement released Thursday.

Crown attorney Donald McIntosh declined to comment on the case's outcome.

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[phylay]

Harkat fears torture, death if deported to Algeria

I am feeling sorry for all what's happening to him... But the possibility of him lleaving Canada (not going to DZ) makes him say anything, and many wrong things on his own country