‘Toronto 11′ deserve fair treatment

The Toronto Star
Thursday 24 Apr 2008
Page: AA04
Section: Editorial

In an open letter on Tuesday, the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) in partnership with 16 other organizations asked authorities to consider reasonable bail terms and re-examine the use of solitary confinement for the “Toronto 11.” This is an edited excerpt of that letter:

As representatives of Canada’s Muslim communities, we are committed to Canada’s security, while also ensuring that due process and civil liberties are respected. Thus, in consideration of the public knowledge we have of the cases, and the impact the proceedings have had on the accused and their families, we are requesting an end to solitary confinement and that their right to reasonable bail be seriously considered.

Citizens of conscience, including Canada’s Muslims, are deeply concerned about the status of each of the remaining 11 men still facing trial. It appears that our government, intelligence and law enforcement agencies have cast an extremely “wide net” in their quest to catch criminals and terrorists in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedies. As a direct result, innocent persons continue to be harassed, interrogated, detained, arrested and incarcerated. The reputations of many have been smeared and lives reduced to tatters.

Balancing the pursuit of law, order, peace and security with the protection of individual human rights and civil liberties is a difficult task, especially when the balancing process involves individuals who may be unpopular. Are we, as a society, prepared to suspend basic rights, such as freedom of association and the presumption of innocence, in the name of anti-terrorism? Ten of the initial “Toronto 18″ remain incarcerated pending trial. Three men continue to be held in solitary confinement. Extreme isolation, conditions more severe than the majority of Canada ’s convicted murderers and rapists are subject to, is hardly appropriate for persons who have not been found guilty by our justice system. Perhaps it is time that the use of solitary confinement in the case of the “Toronto 11″ be re-evaluated.

Like any other individual who is subject to the operation of the law, each of the remaining accused have the right to be granted reasonable bail terms, as the court deems appropriate.

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