Muayyed Nureddin

An Iraqi-born Canadian geologist,[1] Muayyed Nureddin (مؤيد نورالدين), was imprisoned and tortured in similar circumstances to Maher Arar in Syria.[2] He reported being beaten and interrogated about his connection to a Toronto Islamic school; and called for a public inquiry into the role of Canadian officials in his detention.[1] The Honourable Frank Iacobucci released his report in 2008 and concluded that Nurredin "suffered mistreatment amounting to torture" while in Syrian detention and that deficient information sharing by CSIS and the RCMP "likely contributed" to his detention in Syria.[3] After pursuing a civil litigation for nearly ten years, in July 2017, Nureddin and two other torture victims settled their claims with the Canadian government. [4]

Life

In 1996, Nureddin offered to drive Mahmoud Jaballah, a new Egyptian immigrant, around the city if necessary, as he was a newcomer without transportation, but the two never became friends.[5]

Nureddin was approached by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in 2000, and interviewed.[6]

On September 16, 2003, Nureddin boarded his flight at Pearson International Airport towards Amsterdam, intending to travel from there on to Iraq to visit family.[6] He was questioned by a pair of CSIS officials for 45 minutes prior to departure, and asked about the amount of money he was carrying with him, and whether he knew Aly Hindy, Hassan Farhat or Subghat Allah Rasul. He flew to Amsterdam, and then to Iraq, without incident.[6]

Arrest and imprisonment

On December 11, 2003, Nureddin left Iraq towards Damascus, Syria where he had booked a flight home to Toronto. However he was detained at the border and turned over to Syrian Military Intelligence.[6] It was at their hands that he claims to have been tortured and beaten with cables,[1] and asked the same questions that CSIS had asked him in Toronto.[2]

On January 13, 2004, Nureddin was released and met by the Canadian consul in Syria, Leo Martel, who was waiting in the offices of Syrian General Khalil. Nureddin met with the Canadian ambassador, and was flown home by Martel the following day; and was questioned by Martel about what had happened in the prison.[6] He was later questioned again by CSIS agents Mike Boehm and Ian Ferguson.[5]

Inquiry

In 2006 the Canadian government initiated an independent inquiry to determine the facts leading to his detention in Syria.[7][8] As of 9 January 2008, the Commission of Inquiry continues to hear arguments about procedural matters and "standards of conduct", before starting hearings into the substantive matters of concern to the inquiry and participants.[9]

Attention was paid to the fact that Arar had already returned to Canada and denounced Canadian involvement in the Syrian prison; prior to Nureddin's being arrested and sent under identical circumstances to face the same Syrian interrogators.[10]

On June 18, 2009, the Canadian House of Parliament voted in favour of an official apology and compensation to Almalki, el-Maati and Nureddin.[11]


References
  1. CBC, Canadian geologist who was tortured in Syria, February 25, 2004
  2. http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2008/200801/20080108.html CBC interview
  3. Internal Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati and Muayyed Nureddinweb (PDF), at pages 437-38. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  4. MacCharles, Tonda Three Canadians Tortured in Syria Receive $31 Million Settlement From Ottawa, The Toronto Star. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  5. Pither, Kerry. "Dark Days: The Story of Four Canadians Tortured in the Name of Fighting Terror", 2008.
  6. Outline of Submissions on Behalf of Muayyed Nureddin Concerning Standards of Conduct
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-07-12. Retrieved 2008-01-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2008-01-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2008-01-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Index of Documents, Internal Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abouz-zElmaati and Muayyed Nureddin.
  10. "The Current - 08 Jan 2008". CBC Radio News. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008.
  11. Toronto Star, Bungling 'terror' cases, June 21, 2009
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