Good morning. My name is Mohamed Harkat.
On December 10--Human Rights Day--five years ago, our nightmare started. After 43 months of detention without charge or access to the evidence, one year in solitary confinement, time spent in Guantanamo North, and one and a half years under house arrest under the toughest bail conditions in Canadian history, I am here to demand justice.
For the past 18 months, my wife and I have been imprisoned in our own house. We have surveillance cameras in the house. I wear a GPS tracking device. My wife or mother-in-law have to supervise me 24 hours, seven days a week. I've never been left alone in my house or in the backyard. All visitors and family members coming to our house have to be screened by CBSA. Our computer room is under lock, and I have a curfew. We have only three four-hour outings, and all outings are booked and pre-approved by CBSA at least 48 hours in advance. All mail and phone is intercepted. I am followed by two CBSA officers. And the list goes on.
My life has been nothing short of the worst nightmare, and yet I have never been charged with a crime. I don't know the evidence against me.
This grave injustice continues for my family and me. This is not the Canada I dreamed of. Today I am here to urge the Canadian government to give me a fair and open trial so that I can defend myself openly. I strongly believe security certificates won't take me anywhere. My hope for a fair trial died when Bill C-3 was created. This is legislation that will continue to violate my rights as well as the charter.
What little glimpse I did have of a hope for justice is now gone. This is the worst kind of injustice. All of the allegations against me have ruined our lives.
I'm outraged that my case is based on and tried on secret evidence. I am here today because I want all Canadians to know the truth. I want the truth to come out. I want justice. I deserve a chance to clear my name, and that's what other Canadians are standing for.
How long will I be submitted to this terrible treatment--inhuman bail conditions and mental torture--by the Canadian government?
I would like to ask each one of you to reflect on this new legislation and ask yourselves if you would like to be in my shoes. Would you accept this process? Would you put your lives in the hands of special advocates who can't communicate openly with you?
Why is there this two-tiered system? Why am I being punished even though I have never been charged with anything? I have never committed a crime.
Is the special advocate process good enough? It still means years of detention and does not give me equality in the eyes of the law when actual criminals don't need special advocates. Would you trust this system enough to put your lives in the hands of an appointed lawyer without choosing him or her?
I therefore urge the Canadian government to allow me a fair trial. My community, other organizations, and my family and I will continue to fight until justice prevails. As a human being in this country, I expect justice, and today I am demanding justice.
I would like to thank the committee for giving me this chance to speak.