Rendition/torture surviver Maher Arar to testify before Congress today

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/10517

Rendition/torture surviver Maher Arar to testify before Congress today
by Mary Shaw | Oct 18 2007\


Today (Thursday, October 18) at 2:00 p.m., Canadian citizen Maher Arar will testify at a Congressional hearing and tell the story of how he was abducted by the U.S. and sent to Syria to be interrogated under torture.

Maher was never accused of any crime, and a later investigation found that there were no links between Maher and any terrorist organizations or terrorist activities.

According to a case study by Amnesty International, "He was never given a hearing nor did the Canadian consulate, his lawyer, or his family know of his fate. Expulsion in such circumstances, without a fair hearing, and to a country known for regularly torturing their prisoners, violates the U.S. Government's obligations under international law, specifically the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment."

Watch the hearing:

According to the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), which is representing Maher in a lawsuit, you will be able to watch the hearing live online by going to www.foreignaffairs.house.gov and clicking on the "Live Webcast" button at the bottom-right portion of the page.

CCR goes on to say that "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."

Demand justice for Maher Arar:

CCR is demanding that Congress:

• 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.

Indeed. It's the very least they could do.

>> Contact your members of Congress and instruct them accordingly.

Thank you for taking action, and thank you for caring.

_______

[GliderGuider]

1. the thing that makes Maher Arar break down

He found out that his children were put on the list. His daughter was maybe in kindergarten at the time and his son was a newborn.
He can hold it together for himself, but when the bastards target his kids...

[leftchick]

2. I have been following his story for a while now

thank you for this.

[PDJane]

3. It appears that my son is considered a threat........

God only knows why a conservative, white bread guy with dark blue eyes, curly hair, a goatee, and expertise in VOIP protocols, among other arcane things, would be considered a threat. This man travelled back and forth across the border on a regular basis...we're talking 150 times in five years...but he's now stopped and singled out every single time he crosses the border.

Not surprisingly, the company he works for now has to demand his presence...sort of like a presidential order for civilians...to get him there. I haven't been since 2003, and that trip caused me hassles with customs and immigration stateside too. It seems the man felt I'd try to sneak into Texas as an illegal immigrant. :wtf:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. You may teach Osama to make SIP calls through encrypted VPNs! He's a menace!

Ooops... so am I! :scared:

Edit: Now I get that the VoIP guy isn't you.

[PDJane]

7. No........things like data bases are my thing.

His is VOIP. He's brilliant, and I'm glad he's got a down to earth, bubbly little girlfriend to tell him to come in out of the rain.

[Joanne98]

5. Is it going to be on c-span 3?

[GliderGuider]

6. thank you for all you do, babylonsister

Here's a little reward.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3033857

:toast: