Untitled Document
A Canadian official, during a hearing about a Canadian citizen deported
to Syria, said the country will cooperate with other nations that practice torture.
The Globe and Ma il reports Canadian Security Intelligence Service lawyer Barbara
McIsaac said that the government will work on anti-terrorism cases with governments
that practice torture if it will save lives.
She was speaking at a commission hearing looking into Maher Arar's allegations
that he was tortured while imprisoned in Syria.
The 36-year-old Syrian-born Canadian citizen was detained at New York's Kennedy
Airport and deported to Syria despite his Canadian passport.
He claims he was tortured during interrogation there, until he lied
that he was trained in Afghanistan by al-Qaida.
Canada was pressing for his release at the same time officials were pressing
Syria for anti-terrorist intelligence.
McIsaac said the government now knows Arar was innocent and put the blame on
U.S. authorities who deported him.
