Hassan Almrei of the 'Secret Trial 5' Granted Bail

(reposted from Linchpin )

Kept in solitary confinement for close to seven years, Hassan Almrei, the last member of Canada’s Secret Trail Five, has now been granted bail.

Judge Richard G. Mosely in his decision said he was “…satisfied that any risk that (Almrei) might pose to national security or of absconding can be neutralized by conditions.”

Almrei has been fighting deportation to Syria. It has been determined by human rights groups and Canadian courts that if sent to Syria he will be tortured. Canadian governments have repeatedly signed international conventions against deporting individuals to torture.

The conditions placed on Almrei’s house arrest are incredibly strict. He will be the only member of the Secret Trial Five that is allowed to live alone. However with this provision a stringent regime has been put in place . The government will have 24/7 physical surveillance of his house. All visitors will need to be cleared. Security cameras will be placed at all the entrances. No access to cell phones or internet will be allowed. The telephone will be tapped. Agents will be allowed to enter the premises at any time. Leaving the house will only be allowed with sureties and council. A GPS monitoring device must be worn at all times. Canadian Border Services must be given notice as to when, where and how long he will leave the house. No travel outside of a 50km radius from his home, and he will not be allowed in train stations or airports.

Almrei is also not allowed to speak Arabic while in the presence of other non Arabic speaking sureties.

Two other members of Canada’s Secret Trail Five, Mohamed Mahjoub and Mahmoud Jaballah, recently lost a ruling that their surveillance was harming them and their families. The two men are under similar bail conditions, a huge strain on their friends and relations.

Canadian Border Services opens their mail and photographs them in public.

All members of Canada’s Secret Trail Five were arrested under the government’s “Security Certificate” legislation which allows a person to be arrested and detained indefinitely without charge. Detainees are never allowed to see the “evidence” against them. All five men continue to fight deportation to torture.