For 21 months, that was a decision made jointly with my lawyers, the Coalition and my family. I felt that the whole process was a travesty of justice. By testifying, the Attorney General could simply stand up and say that I wasn't credible. And if I lost all credibility, I was finished at that trial. So, it was a question of credibility. It was my word against CSIS's word.
So, I decided not to testify. Thanks to my university professors, my friends and my family, I proved that I was not a terrorist. I had to wait until the Honourable Justice Noël extended a hand to me and said that if I was telling the truth in my testimony, he would release me. I took a polygraph test four times. My lawyers hired someone with a lot of experience, an ex-Commander of the Sûreté du Québec who teaches RCMP officers how to use the polygraph test. He came to prison. He gave me the test, and I passed it. Then I went to testify in front of Justice Noël and I told him, with supporting evidence, that I was not a terrorist or a member of al-Qaeda, and that if the government had anything on me, it had to prove it in the context of a fair trial.
I may give you the impression today that I am disappointed and frustrated, but please understand. I spent four years fighting, all the way to the Supreme Court, to have this legislation declared unconstitutional. I see now that Bill C-3 is a real disappointment. It's the same law with just a few cosmetic changes that don't guarantee me either protection or justice.
I want to thank you for hearing me out. I know that in other countries, I would not have had that opportunity. I am not ungrateful.