Imagine spending years in prison without being charged with a crime or knowing exactly what you’re accused of. This presentation is a sobering examination of the Canadian government’s use of security certificates, a Kafkaesque tool that allows for indefinite detention without charges, based on evidence not revealed to the accused or their lawyers. Since 1999, this rare and highly controversial device has been used to detain at least five men for nearly 30 years combined. To date, none has been charged with a crime or seen the evidence against them.
Mohamed Harkat was arrested under a security certificate in 2002. He spent 43 months in jail (one year in solitary confinement) before being released under strict house arrest conditions in 2006. Mr. Harkat was the center of the second Supreme Court challenge against security certificates, a challenge that was lost late last year. He presently lives under restrictions in Ottawa with his wife Sophie Harkat. For more information see his website http://www.justiceforharkat.com
Sophie Harkat a graduate student in Public & Media. She has traveled extensively across the county and to the UK to talk about Security Certificates and granted hundreds of interviews with reporters from around the world about her husband’s case. She has been a guest speaker at universities & conferences. One of her most memorable events was when she spoke with Jack Layton at a large rally in front of 20,000 people in 2004. She was given a human rights award by CAIR-CAN in 2004.
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm Location: Room PE264 1st Choice Savings Centre, University of Lethbridge Cost: Free event, free parking, everyone welcome