Legal Notes

ARAB CANADIAN CIVIL LIBERTIES ASSOCIATION: Lawyers invited to join

The Arab Canadian Civil Liberties Association is composed of lawyers who came together to assist the Arab Canadian community to protect its rights during these challenging years. As part of our work we have been called upon increasingly to assist Arab Canadians who were contacted by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Being called by CSIS can be a harrowing experience for ordinary Arab Canadians. The narrative of Maher Arar confirms that even an innocent established Canadian citizen with nothing to hide can have his or her life ruined by misinformation gather by Canada's security establishment.

Regardless of the indications of CSIS's bad faith and predatory practises, Arab Canadians should do their part to address legitimate issues of national security. However, our community needs to protect itself. To address these legitimate concerns we have developed the following protocol:

1. Anyone with information relating to a security threat to Canada should report it to Canadian authorities immediately.
2. All contacts with CSIS are voluntary and everyone has the right to decline to speak with CSIS.
3. No person should ever communicate with CSIS without being assisted by a lawyer of the person's own choosing.
4. If CSIS initiates the contact, then prior to any meeting CSIS should be required to commit in writing to pay the reasonable cost of the lawyer assisting the person.
5. No contacts with CSIS should be accepted at a person's place of work unless the purpose of the contact is employment related and initiated with the employer's knowledge (i.e., routine security clearance screening).
6. No meeting with CSIS should be conducted at a private residence.
7. All meetings with CSIS should be recorded by the person or his/her lawyer.

Our association provides free legal advice and assistance to Arab Canadians to ensure that our community's civil liberties are protected.

We invite ACLA members to join our roster of lawyers. New calls to the Bar are welcome.

For more information please contact
James Kafieh
(416) 529-6041
JK_CGM@hotmail.com

Download list of lawyers who give free advice to persons being interrogated by CSIS