General

UN says Canada ‘complicit’ in violations of human rights

The United Nations says Canada owes an apology and compensation to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati and Muayyed Nureddin.

As reported by the Canadian Press, an end-of-session study from the UN Committee Against Torture accuses the federal government of being “complicit” to human rights violations committed against the three Arab-Canadian men who were held in Syria after 9-11.

The committee’s report says it is concerned that Canada appears reluctant to protect rights of all Canadians detained in other countries, by comparison with the case of Maher Arar. It suggests Canada’s security practices put detained Canadians at risk.

The UN also criticizes the Harper government’s decision to post the names and faces of alleged war criminals on line:

“The committee notes with regret the recent initiative to publicize the names and faces of 30 individuals living in Canada who had been found inadmissible to Canada on grounds they may have been responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity. If they are apprehended and deported, they may escape justice and remain unpunished.”

The UN asks the federal government to reply to their concerns by June 2013.

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