CAIR-CAN, CMCLA win participation in security certificate appeals at Supreme Court

For immediate release

The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) and the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association (CMCLA) have won the right to be heard before the Supreme Court of Canada in the three appeals dealing with the security certificate process on June 13-15.

CAIR-CAN and the CMCLA are the only Canadian Muslim organizations that have been granted the right to make submissions to the Court on this issue. They will be represented by Toronto lawyers Faisal Bhabha and David Baker, and will present to the court the impact of security certificates on the Canadian Muslim community.

"We are pleased that the Supreme Court has decided to include the experiences of the Canadian Muslim community by allowing both CAIR-CAN and the CMCLA to participate in the appeals," says Faisal Kutty, CMCLA's General Counsel. "This is a tremendous opportunity for Canadian Muslims to make their voices heard."

The Supreme Court has granted three of the five Muslim men facing security certificates leave to appeal the constitutionality of the certificate process. Security certificates have been derided by civil libertarians for such things as the use of secret evidence, the denial of due process, indefinite detentions and the possibility of deportation to countries where torture is common. Security certificates are used against non-citizens suspected of being terrorists.

CAIR-CAN and the CMCLA will be submitting to the court that security certificates amount to an unjustifiable breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and that the values of equality and anti-discrimination must be taken into account when reviewing the practice.

"The increasing use of security certificates against Muslims has created the impression of a second tier of justice for members of our community. It is bringing the justice system into disrepute with Canadian Muslims," says Halima Mautbur, CAIR-CAN's Human Rights Coordinator.

"This is the kind of process that many Muslims fled to Canada to escape. It is the kind of practice that has no place in a democracy," she added.