[Patrick_Ross]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... hub=Canada

$1:

Anti-Terror Act flawed, Khawaja lawyer tells court

Canadian Press

OTTAWA -- Terrorists should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, says the lawyer for terror suspect Momin Khawaja, but not under the "mockery of parliamentary legislation'' that is the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Khawaja, the first Canadian charged under the act, is seeking to have the laws declared unconstitutional on the grounds they're overly broad and vague.

The 27-year-old Ottawa software developer appeared in an Ottawa courthouse Monday -- the fifth anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks -- under heavy security. SWAT teams patrolled the courthouse corridors which had been swept for bombs, and visitors to the Superior Court passed through metal detectors.

Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, representing Khawaja, noted the Sept. 11 anniversary in his opening address and said terrorists must be prosecuted.

But he argued that the act rushed through Parliament in 9-11's aftermath is an attack on freedom of expression, of association, of religion and amounts to what Greenspon called a "criminalization of politics.''

"The 9-11 terrorists who have nothing but contempt for these ideals would be only too pleased to hear that everything has changed,'' he told Justice Douglas Rutherford.

Greenspon said Canada has a long history of rushing to restrict rights during times of national stress but asked Rutherford to resist these politically popular measures, which he said usually resulted in belated apologies from the government after the fact.

"I ask the court respectfully not to follow the Canadian pattern,'' said Greenspon.

Khawaja was charged in 2004 with seven counts under the anti-terror act in relation to his alleged role in a British bomb plot. Seven alleged co-conspirators, all Britons, have been on trial for months in London.

Khawaja's trial is not scheduled to begin until January.

[hwacker]

A jail cell for this and anybody linked to this is all is needed,

"freedom of expression, of association, of religion" and if it stems to muslims it's unconstitutional, Yeah ok, they are above the law because they are a minority in Canada also the only group starting most of this crap around the world.

If muslims don’t like being portrayed as the bad guys, stop doing stuff that makes you look that way. Either that or enjoy the 4X8 you’re going to have for a long time.

[Patrick_Ross]

The idea of Security Certificate program, for example, is a sound idea. There are a few problems with it, however. Being able to aribtrarily classify evidence, for example, is problematic. Putting that power in the hands of one individual (Minister of Public Safety) is doubly problematic.

There should be some process by which the evidence is examined by a number of parties, following which the decision is made in regards to whether or not it can be classified or not.

Also, some process by which defense counsel can examine the classified evidence, while still maintaining the security around that evidence, should be devised.


Fair is fair. We need to place an onus on the system that still requires it to keep us safe, but also places a burden of proof upon it.

[flagwaver]

Let the evidence prove the case, it seems there is plenty and in my opinion if he IS found guilty, then let a Precedent be set for this act

[CanAm1]

Send him to England, muwahahaha

[kenmore]

Why is it that the courts go to great lengths to protect these terrorists.. He will walk and probably they will give him a scholarship to enhance his chemical engineering education and bomb and explosive devices expertice? go figure.. Cant people see the Trojan Horse theory,,, these guys are coming here, being educated by our system with our money and their plan is to blow us up.. go figure only in Canada... pity.