Close X
Friday, November 15, 2024
ADVT 
International

Terror Charges Downgraded Against Canadian Man Detained In UAE

The Canadian Press, 21 Mar, 2016 12:57 PM
    TORONTO — Terrorism charges against a Canadian imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates for more than a year have been dropped, marking what his family called a major development in the man's case.
     
    But Salim Alaradi's legal battle is far from over, as a state prosecutor announced at a court hearing Monday that the Libyan-born man had been charged instead with two lesser offences.
     
    "What happened today is clear evidence that my father is innocent," Alaradi's 18-year-old daughter Marwa told The Canadian Press. "The closer we get to his innocence the more the U.A.E. State Security plays games with his freedom."
     
    Alaradi, who immigrated to Canada in 1998 from the U.A.E. but returned there in 2007 to run a home appliance business, was on vacation with his family in Dubai when he was arrested in August 2014.
     
    He was among 10 men of Libyan origin detained around the same time — some of them have since been released.  
     
    When his trial got underway in January, the 48-year-old pleaded not guilty to the terrorism charges which related to funding, supporting and co-operating with terrorist organizations.
     
    His Canadian lawyer said the dropping of the terror-related charges was a significant development.
     
    "It was a real dramatic turn," said Paul Champ. "It seems that state security is trying to salvage this situation and save face when they know they really don't have anything against these men."
     
    The lesser charges Alaradi now faces allege he provided supplies to groups in a foreign country without permission of the U.A.E. government and collected donations without permission of the U.A.E. government, Champ said.
     
     
    "The most serious outcomes that we were most concerned about are off the table, whether it was life imprisonment or even the death penalty," Champ explained. "We're hoping that these might be viewed as relatively minor charges."
     
    Alaradi has always admitted he helped raise funds and secure supplies for the new transitional council in Libya after the ouster of longtime Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, Champ noted.
     
    "That was fully supported by the U.A.E. government and all western governments at the time," he said. "Since there has been increased unrest in Libya starting in 2012, Mr. Alaradi has nothing to do whatsoever with the political situation there."
     
    The U.A.E. was part of the NATO-led coalition that ousted Gadhafi and has taken a keen interest in the country's future since.
     
    Alaradi's case has drawn growing international attention since he and his co-accused went on trial.
     
    UN human rights experts last month demanded the U.A.E immediately release him and his fellow detainees.
     
    The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also examined the men's cases and cited advocates for the detainees alleging that the men had been deprived of sleep for up to 20 days, beaten on the hands and legs and suffered "electric shocks with an electric chair.''
     
    The scrutiny seems to be having an impact, Champ said.
     
    "I think the contrast between the human rights violations that are occurring against these men and the reputation that the U.A.E. likes to project to the world is really what's on display here," he said. "Hopefully we're going to see a fair process the rest of the way here and Mr. Alaradi will be acquitted."
     
    Alaradi will be back in court on April 11.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Temple Attack In Pakistan Not Because Of Faith: Reema Abbasi

    Temple Attack In Pakistan Not Because Of Faith: Reema Abbasi
    Asserting that Hindus were not persecuted in her country, Pakistani journalist-author Reema Abbasi on Saturday attributed land-grabbing rather faith behind attacks on temples in Pakistan.

    Temple Attack In Pakistan Not Because Of Faith: Reema Abbasi

    'Kerala Evening' Enthralls Silicon Valley

    'Kerala Evening' Enthralls Silicon Valley
    Kathakali and Kalaripayattu performers enthralled a packed venue of the event organized by Kerala Tourism in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) and US-India Business Council on Thursday in Palo Alto, California.

    'Kerala Evening' Enthralls Silicon Valley

    Obama To Award Science Medal To Indian-American Professor Dr. Rakesh K. Jain

    Obama To Award Science Medal To Indian-American Professor Dr. Rakesh K. Jain
    Indian-American professor Dr. Rakesh K. Jain and 16 other scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and innovators will receive the National Medals of Science and Technology and Innovation from President Barack Obama next Friday.

    Obama To Award Science Medal To Indian-American Professor Dr. Rakesh K. Jain

    Amnesiac Pakistan Rakes Up Hyderabad's 1948 Accession To India

    Amnesiac Pakistan Rakes Up Hyderabad's 1948 Accession To India
    Pakistan's Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi is asking the Council to keep alive the question of the princely state's integration into a secular India.

    Amnesiac Pakistan Rakes Up Hyderabad's 1948 Accession To India

    Australia Grants Special Visa To Indian Sikh For Father's Funeral In India

    Australia Grants Special Visa To Indian Sikh For Father's Funeral In India
    The 26-year-old, who arrived in Australia as a student, was awaiting the arrival of his father and mother at Melbourne Airport on Monday morning when the tragedy struck.

    Australia Grants Special Visa To Indian Sikh For Father's Funeral In India

    Quebec Man Charged With Smuggling 82 Kilograms Of Xanax Pills On Sled Across U.S. Border

    Quebec Man Charged With Smuggling 82 Kilograms Of Xanax Pills On Sled Across U.S. Border
    The U.S. Attorney's office says Cedrik Bourgault-Morin  was apprehended early Wednesday after he crossed the border from Quebec along a railroad line into Vermont

    Quebec Man Charged With Smuggling 82 Kilograms Of Xanax Pills On Sled Across U.S. Border