Parliamentarians subpoenaed in Abdelrazik case

Several parliamentarians, including Peter Harder, the Liberal government’s representative in the Senate, have been subpoenaed to testify in Abousfian Abdelrazik’s high-profile lawsuit over his detention in Sudan.

Abdelrazik’s lawyer, Paul Champ, wants to question a number of individuals from the inner circle of government about their knowledge of his client’s prolonged ordeal. Subpoenas have also been issued to Sen. Mobina Jaffer, Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai and Liberal MP Wayne Easter, all of whom had dealings with the Abdelrazik file.

In addition, the Crown has confirmed that Lawrence Cannon, a former Conservative foreign affairs minister, will be appearing as a witness, Champ says.

The Sudanese-born Abdelrazik, 55, came to Canada from Africa as a refugee in 1990 and attained Canadian citizenship five years later.

The Montreal man was arrested during a 2003 visit to Sudan to see family. While in custody, Abdelrazik was interrogated by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service about suspected extremist links. He claims he was tortured by Sudanese intelligence officials during two periods of detention, but Canada says it knew nothing of the alleged abuse.

Abdelrazik denies any involvement in terrorism and is suing the Canadian government in Federal Court for an apology and compensation.