Canada: relaxed surveillance to Mohamed Harkat, suspected of terrorism

OTTAWA - A Canadian federal court decided on Monday to relax the strict conditions imposed on an Algerian suspected of links with the extremist organization al-Qaeda.

•     Mohamed Harkat, a former pizza delivery man in Ottawa, will not be more guarded with camera, would no longer abide by a curfew and can freely receive mail or telephone calls.
  
  He will also receive friends at home without asking for permission, as he may now visit them.
  
      He will however continue to wear at all times an electronic bracelet, remain in the city of Ottawa and report his presence to the authorities once a week.
  
      The decision by Judge Simon Noël of the Federal Court after a downward revision by the Canadian information risk posed by Mr. Harkat.
  
      "This is another step to clear my name," said Mr. Harkat leaving the court.
  
      Suspected of being part of a sleeping cell of Al Qaeda by the Canadian service, which he denies, Mr. Harkat was arrested in December 2002 under a "security certificate", a procedure that allows authorities to detain without trial of foreigners suspected of terrorism on the basis of secret information.
  
      After nearly four years in prison he had obtained in June 2006 his parole under strict conditions, which had been relaxed for the first time last March.
  
      Mr. Harkat, who faces deportation to Algeria, has never been formally accused of anything in Canada.
  
      
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.