On 31 October 2003, about 75 people protested in front of the headquarters of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) outside Ottawa. Protesters came from Ottawa, Toronto and other cities in Southern Ontario, and Montreal to demand the end to security certificates and freedom for five Muslim men who are presently detained without charges on the basis of secret "evidence" according to which they represent a "threat to national security in Canada." These men are Mohammed Mahjoub (imprisoned since June 2000), Mahmoud Jaballah (since August 2001), Hassan Almrei (October 2001), Mohamed Harkat (December 2002) and Adil Charkaoui (May 2003). They are at risk of deportation to their countries of origin, where they may face torture or
death without even knowing what they have been accused of.

On 31 October 2003, about 75 people protested in front of the headquarters
of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) outside Ottawa.
Protesters came from Ottawa, Toronto and other cities in Southern Ontario,
and Montreal to demand the end to security certificates and freedom for five
Muslim men who are presently detained without charges on the basis of secret
"evidence" according to which they represent a "threat to national security
in Canada." These men are Mohammed Mahjoub (imprisoned since June 2000),
Mahmoud Jaballah (since August 2001), Hassan Almrei (October 2001), Mohamed
Harkat (December 2002) and Adil Charkaoui (May 2003). They are at risk of
deportation to their countries of origin, where they may face torture or
death without even knowing what they have been accused of.

Because it was Halloween, many of the protestors were disguised as spies
and there was at least one spy disguised . as a protestor!
The protestors put a sofa in front of the entrance to the CSIS building and
offered psychological aid to the secret agents suffering from an irrational
fear of Arabs and Muslims. The Raging Grannies, a group already known to
CSIS as a potential threat to national security, were there, singing
political songs. The presence of Sophie Harkat did not pass without notice:
she was dressed up as a devil, explaining that her life has been a real hell
since the arrest of her husband Mohammed Harkat in 2002.

The group from Montreal had organised a game, "Who's the terrorist?" None
other than Denis Coderre (Minister of Immigration who co-signs the security
certificates) animated the game with his circus master whip. Participants
had to chose among Wayne Easter Bunny (the Solicitor-General and second
signatory of a certificate), distributing security certificates from his
easter basket, a soldier (or state terrorist), an RCMP officer in her
beautiful red and black uniform, or Asper the scary ghost, who was accusing
everyone of being "anti-semitic." There were also Bin Laden, whose mask
flipped up to reveal George Bush hiding underneath, and Celine Dion, who
terrorises our ears. However, the authorities refused to arrest the
terrorists which the crowd brought to them.

The protestors took a tour around the fence which surrounds the national
headquarters of Canadian secret police. National security was compromised
when about fifteen CSIS employees were surprised taking a smoke break, but
they beat a quick retreat back to the secure building. At the end of the
tour, four protestors slipped under the fence to ask not so much for candy
as the secret evidence serving as a pretext for the imprisonment of the
five. The four "trick or treaters" were arrested and each received a fine of
$75 for trespassing on private property. After having been photographed,
they were released in the city to prevent them from repeating their crime.

The mass media was massively present at the action, in addition to
independent media and of course the film-makers and photographers of the
political police. The protestors distributed security certificates to cars
driving by, many of whom honked to show their support. But throughout the
action, the authorities, who had launched a report on the eve of the action,
claiming that CSIS did not harass the Muslim community, continued to hide
behind the fence and the police from fear that truth would be known.

Other actions took place in ten other cities in Canada, including a picket
at the CSIS office in Halifax and a delegation visit to the offices of the
Immigration in Quebec. As long as the five continue to be unjustly
imprisoned, we will continue to denounce this situation. No peace without
justice!

For more information:
Coalition for Justice for Adil Charkaoui: 514 859 9023,
just...@riseup.net, www.adilinfo.org
Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada: 416 651 5800, t...@web.ca,
www.homesnotbombs.ca