Detainee loses bid for bail

Suspected terrorist Hassan Almrei must remain behind bars after a Federal Court judge yesterday denied bail to the 31year- old, ruling his release poses a risk to national security.

Almrei, who faces deportation to his native Syria, has been held in solitary confinement at the Toronto West Detention Centre since October 2001, on a national security certificate.

Justice Carolyn Layden- Stevenson wrote in her decision that “ in balancing the interests of national security and personal liberty, I conclude that his release is not appropriate at this time.”

This marks the second time that Almrei has been turned down by the Federal Court for release. After he was rejected the first time, Almrei took his case to the Federal Court of Appeal. That court upheld the decision. Last month, the Supreme Court agreed to hear his case. His lawyer, Barbara Jackman, plans to argue that detention provisions constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

“He’s very depressed,” said Jackman of Almrei’s reaction to the latest development. “ He had been hopeful that maybe this time the judge would let him out. He had a fairly strong group of individuals who had agreed to stand as sureties for him.” One of those individuals included Alexandre Trudeau, son of the late prime minister, who has spoken out passionately against federal security certificates, which he plans to make the subject of his next documentary film. Under the new federal legislation authorities can detain and deport terrorist suspects without revealing any of the evidence against them.

Almrei is among five Muslim men Canada is trying to deport because they are said to be a threat to national security. The government alleges that he has links to Al Qaeda through an Islamic charity, that he was part of an international forgery ring, and that he spent time in a terrorist training camp. Almrei is fighting deportation because he says he faces imprisonment and torture in Syria.