Defendant Jaggi Singh to ask for all bail conditions to be rescinded, including ban on demonstrating

November 15, 2010 (Toronto/Montreal) -- This coming Wednesday, November 17 at 10am, G20 “conspiracy” co-accused Jaggi Singh will be challenging the restrictive bail conditions under which he was released from custody almost four months ago. The bail challenge will take place at the Ontario Superior Court, 361 University Avenue, in Toronto.

Jaggi Singh is a community organizer active with the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC) as well as No One Is Illegal-Montreal. With the support of his counsel Peter Rosenthal, Mr. Singh is seeking to rescind all bail conditions.

His restrictive and onerous conditions include house arrest, non-association with various individuals and groups, the inability to possess a passport or to use a cell phone, and more. Other G20 conspiracy defendants face even more restrictive curfews and house arrest.

According to Blandine Juchs of the Legal Committee of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC): “These conditions of release reveal the political nature of the charges being faced by the G20 protesters.”

The bail conditions include a ban on participating, organizing or attending “any public demonstration.” The conditions have been used to jail co-accused Alex Hundert for simply speaking at a university panel. Alex remains in detention.

Mr. Singh’s court application is supported by several witnesses and affidavits. Part of the application includes an extended affidavit by historian Bryan Palmer, a Canada Research Chair at Trent University and a historian of labour and social movements.

PEN Canada will also be intervening in the case in support of quashing the “no demonstration” condition. In their words: “Preventing someone from participating in a public demonstration does nothing to ensure the safety of a single Canadian."

In a strongly worded statement, PEN Canada (www.pencanada.ca) adds :
"On the contrary, the practice of censorship harms the rights of all Canadians and is repugnant to any society that values its right to freedom of expression."

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To be followed: www.twitter.com/JaggiMontreal