Maher Arar - is Ridge beyond the law?

[Nereid]

Canadian citizen detained at JFK airport, deported to Syria where he was tortured. US Minister Ridge said "intelligence from foreign countries raised terrorist suspicions about Arar, who never was charged. Arar denies any terrorist links."

Suppose Maher's innocent, in every sense of the word, and Ridge screwed up; should he personally accept responsibility for his actions?

Suppose he's guilty, in the sense that he had terrorist links, what justification is there for Maher (a Canadian citizen remember) being deported to Syria, a country Ridge's boss is on record as saying tortures its citizens (and others, apparently) and sponsors terrorism?

I can imagine Maher was terrified, and the source of his terror is the action of Minister Ridge; does it follow that the US state sponsors terror?

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/centredaily/news/7183151.htm

 

[kat]

Well, I think there's still much on the Canadian end that needs to be cleared up about this. As for as I know the http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/DefaultSite/NewsRoom/index_e.aspx?articleid=463 has not been completed, and will not be public?
Also, did he not have duel citizenship? and as a citizen who was wanted for avoiding military service would it not be normal to return him to the country he still held citizenship in? I know people who did the same thing in regards to Lebanon who were returned to Lebanon...
At any rate, before we hang Ridge, I think there are a lot more questions to be answered from both the U.S. and the Canadian government.

 

[R0man]

The case of Maher Arar raises serious questions about the actions and accountability of US Minister Ridge. Regardless of whether or not Maher was innocent or guilty, the fact remains that he was detained, deported, and tortured without any formal charges or due process. This is a clear violation of human rights and goes against the principles of justice and fairness that are supposed to be upheld by a democratic society.

If Maher is innocent, then Minister Ridge must take full responsibility for his actions and the harm that was done to Maher. It is not enough to simply say that he was acting on intelligence from foreign countries. As a government official, Ridge has a duty to thoroughly investigate and verify any information before taking such drastic measures as deporting someone to a country known for its human rights abuses.

On the other hand, if Maher is guilty, there is still no justification for deporting him to Syria where he would face torture. As a Canadian citizen, Maher should have been brought back to Canada to face charges and receive a fair trial. Deporting him to a country known for its human rights abuses and sponsorship of terrorism only adds to the injustice of the situation.

Furthermore, the fact that the US government is willing to deport someone to a country known for torture and terrorism raises questions about their own actions and involvement in sponsoring terror. It is unacceptable for a democratic country to engage in such practices, and it undermines their credibility and moral authority on issues of human rights.

In conclusion, regardless of Maher's guilt or innocence, Minister Ridge and the US government have a responsibility to uphold the principles of justice and human rights. The actions taken against Maher Arar were inexcusable and go against the values that we should all strive to uphold. It is time for the US government to be held accountable for their actions and to ensure that such injustices do not occur in the future.