Security Certificate - Past Security Certificates

Past Security Certificates

In addition to the three people who currently have cases pending, twenty others have been charged under Security Certificate legislation since 1991.

• Hassan Almrei, a Syrian refugee who was detained in a Toronto jail in October 2001. He was transferred to the "Kingston Immigration Holding Centre" in April 2006. He has held several prolonged hunger strikes, the longest lasting over 100 days. He was ordered released under house arrest by a Federal Court judge on January 2, 2009. The Federal Court quashed the certificate in December 2009. Mr. Almrei launched a suit of the Canadian government in February 2010.
• Adil Charkaoui, a Moroccan-born Montrealer detained from May 2003 until February 2005, when he was freed on strict conditions of release. Charkaoui's Security Certificate was lifted in September 2009 after the government withdrew evidence rather than disclose it on Court orders. Charkaoui is suing the Canadian government in a bid to hold government officials accountable and to clear his name.
• Manickavasagam Suresh, a Sri Lankan, first arrested in 1995 and held til 1998. He was ordered deported, but ongoing court processes kept him in Canada under conditions. The certificate against him was annulled when the Supreme Court struck down the security certificate legislation in February 2007, and the government did not issue a new certificate against him when new legislation went into effect in February 2008.
• Ernst Zundel, a German permanent resident of Canada since 1958 was arrested in May 2003 and deported to Germany in March 2005.
• Mourad Ikhlef, an Algerian living in Montreal who gained refugee status in 1994, was arrested in December 2001 and deported in February 2003, when he was handed over directly to Algerian intelligence services. He was tortured and imprisoned based on information obtained during his torture.
• Iqbal Singh, an Indian refugee living in Toronto who gained status in 1993, was arrested in April 1998 and deported to Belize in January 2000.
• Hani Abdul Rahim al Sayegh was arrested in March 1997 and deported in June 1997 to the U.S. Subsequently he was deported in 1999 to Saudi Arabia to face criminal charges.
• Aynur Saygili, a non-status refugee from Turkey, living in Montreal, was arrested in November 1996, and deported to France in August 1997.
• Djafar Seyfi, an Iranian refugee who gained status in 1995, was arrested in September 1996 and deported later the same year.
• Effat Nejati, also known as Shahla Moharrami, was Iranian non-status refugee living in Toronto. She was arrested in August 1996 and deported to Britain in November of that year.
• Yelena Borisovna Olshanskaya, and Dmitriy Vladimirovich Olshanskiy were Russian nationals, arrested in May 1996 and deported in June of that year.
• Satkuneswaran Kandiah, a Sri Lankan national who resided in Montreal was arrested October 1995 and disappeared before his court hearing.
• Wahid Khalil Baroud, a Palestinian who resided in Toronto, was arrested in June 1994, and deported in 1995 to Sudan.
• Hardeep Singh, also known as Maan Singh Sidhu, was an Indian national arrested in June 1994 and deported January 1995.
• Mohamed Hussein al Husseini, a Lebanese status refugee who resided in Montreal was arrested in 1993, and deported in 1994.
• Issam Al Yamani, a Palestinian permanent resident, was investigated after applying for citizenship in 1988. Between the years of 1993 and 2000 Yamani was named in two separate security certificate investigations, both of which were quashed by judges. Deportation proceedings were subsequently re-initiated under normal immigration procedures and the matter is still before the courts
• Mansour Ahani, an Iranian was arrested in June 1993 and deported in January 2002. Ahani was held for the nine years in which he unsuccessfully fought against his charges.
• Saleh Mousbah Zakout, a Palestinian, was arrested upon his arrival in Toronto in 1993 and deported the following year.
• Robab Farahi-Mahdavieh, an Iranian, was arrested in 1992 and deported to Britain in March 1993.
• Parvin Khassebaf, an Iranian, arrested in August 1993 and deported to France in September of that year.
• Mahmoud Abu Shandi, a Palestinian living in Montreal, was arrested in October 1991 and deported in February 1992, first to Algeria, then Libya.
• Joseph and Sarah Smith, Iraqi citizens, arrested in 1991 at a Toronto airport as they disembarked from their plane. They were subsequently released due to the removal of their certificate, and able to claim refugee status.
• Paul William Hampel, alleged to be a Russian spy using a pseudonym, was arrested on November 14, 2006, at a Montreal Airport after a security certificate, naming the individual in question, was signed by Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day.