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"Independent Public Enquiry on Treatment of Maher Arar Must Take Place" says Canadian Ethnocultural Council For Immediate Release Ottawa, November 5, 2003. The Canadian Ethnocultural is extremely concerned by the details given by Canadian Maher Arar regarding his detention in Syria. "The statements made by Mr. Arar raise serious questions about the rights of all Canadians, especially foreign-born citizens and these can only be answered through a full and independent public inquiry into the circumstances that led to his arrest and detention", said Anna Chiappa, Executive Director. "We are very troubled about Mr. Arar's account of the treatment he received and the role that Canadian security agencies may have played in his arrest and deportation. There are too many serious and troubling questions which must be answered for Canadians to feel secure. If our citizenship has any value, then the Government must take the necessary steps to find out what happened", concluded Ms. Chiappa. "We support the call by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee and other civil society organizations including the Canadian Arab Federation's, a CEC member, for a public inquiry. Mr. Arar's quest to get to the bottom of his ordeal is a legitimate request".
For more information contact tel. (613) 230 - 3867, fax (613) 230-8051. cec@web.ca The Canadian Ethnocultural Council is a coalition of over 30
national ethnocultural organizations, which in turn represent over
2,000 local chapters across Canada. Its mandate is to work towards
the elimination of racism and to promote the understanding of the
multicultural reality of Canada as defined in The Canadian Charter
of Rights and Freedoms and The Canadian Multiculturalism Act. Sources |