CCR: Maher Arar, rendition victim, to testify before Congress on Thursday!

[Coexist]

I got this email today from the Center for Constitutional Rights

This Thursday CCR client Maher Arar - an innocent victim of the Bush administration's policy of extraordinary rendition - will testify before a Congressional hearing regarding his rendition to torture by the U.S. government. Please send a letter to your Representative urging them to attend these important hearings and demand justice and accountability for Maher.

You can watch the proceedings live on the House Judiciary Committee's website starting at 2 p.m.

In September 2002, Maher Arar was changing planes on his way home to Canada when he was pulled aside at JFK Airport, detained and interrogated by the U.S. and then 'rendered' to Syria, where he was tortured and put in an underground, grave-like cell for nearly a year. Find out more about Maher's Story.

After Maher was released, having never been charged with any crime in any country, Canada convened a Commission of Inquiry which conducted an exhaustive two-year investigation into his case. The investigation found that there were no links between Maher and any terrorist organizations or terrorist activities, and the Canadian government officially apologized to Maher and awarded him a multi-million dollar settlement for its role in his rendition.

CCR's lawsuit on Maher's behalf will be argued before the Court of Appeals on November 9—but this week, we have an opportunity to focus the attention of Congress on his rendition, and to demand that the U.S. government apologize to Maher and launch a full investigation into their rendition of an innocent man.

On Thursday, October 18 at 2 p.m. EST, Maher will testify before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties along with the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight during a joint session. To watch the hearing, titled "Rendition to Torture: The Case of Maher Arar," go here http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov and click on the "Live Webcast" button at the bottom right of the page. Ironically, Maher will be testifying at his own hearing via video-link from Canada, as he continues to be banned from entering the U.S.

This important hearing will examine Maher's case and the government practice of extraordinary rendition more broadly. It is critical that as many members of Congress attend the hearing as possible and demand action - please take a few minutes today to send a letter to your Representative asking that they attend Maher's hearing on Thursday and also demand that the U.S. government:

Make an official, public apology to Maher;
Release all documents pertaining to Maher's rendition;
Launch an independent commission to investigate Maher's rendition; and
Demand that Maher Arar be removed from the watch-list immediately.
Act to make sure that Maher receives the justice he deserves here in the U.S., the country that is responsible for sending him to Syria to be tortured. We can never undo what has been done to him, but we can fight to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.


Sincerely,

Vincent Warren
CCR Executive Director

[SteppingRazor]

1. Might want to mention Center for Constitutional Rights somewhere in your post...

I saw "CCR" and immediately thought Creedence Clearwater Revival. :silly:

[Coexist]

3. lol! fixed it.

[Spazito]

2. Excellent! Thanks for the heads-up!

Here is a good article from the NYT on the case:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/world/americas/19canada.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1158638400&en=5a5807626a7ef39e&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin

[applegrove]

4. Wow that he is alloud into the USA these days. Last year he was not.

[sabra]

5. thanks! k&r

[Lisa]

6. recommended!

He is an amazing man -- I hope that a lot of legislators will hear what he has to say.

[Coexist]

7. me too.