Government seeks to revoke Canadian citizenship of convicted terrorist Misbahuddin Ahmed
2015/07/27 Leave a comment
And then there were two. The focus (so far) is on those who have been convicted in Canadian courts (which avoids all sorts of due process issues with respect to those convicted overseas):
Pakistan-Canadian Ahmed, 32, is serving 12 years at Warkworth, a medium-security prison in Ontario.
A third accused was acquitted of the one conspiracy charge against him and charges against the fourth man were dropped.
“Misbah knows about this and instructed me to do whatever is possible to prevent the revocation of his citizenship,’ said lawyer Ertel. “We intend to challenge the legislation and oppose this in every way.
“Like many Canadians I’m no fan of the draconian legislation or the apparent lack of restraint in its application,’ he added.
Ahmed now has 60 days to respond to the government’s application.
When he sentenced Ahmed, Ontario Superior Court Justice Colin McKinnon said he was convinced that Ahmed had renounced his terrorist inclinations.
He refused to impose a maximum sentence, meaning Ahmed could apply to the parole board for early release after serving one-third of his sentence.
“But for the fact that Mr. Ahmed has been convicted for terrorism offences rather than some other serious offence,” said the judge, “he would likely be considered an appropriate candidate for a conditional (non-custodial) sentence.”
He rejected the prosecutions request for a 20-year sentence saying it would be an “injustice.”
Ahmed, a former Ottawa Hospital diagnostic-imaging technician and the father of three young daughters was convicted of conspiracy to facilitate terrorism and facilitating terrorism. He was acquitted of a more serious third charge of possessing an explosive device.”
Crown prosecutors say Ahmed’s sentence is too lenient and are appealing.
Ahmed, for his part, is appealing the sentence on the grounds it is too harsh.
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