B.C Civil Liberties Association

A Setback for Human Rights Protection: Federal Court of Appeal Rules in Afghan Prisoner Case
The BCCLA and Amnesty International today expressed their considerable dismay that the Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a March 2008 Federal Court ruling that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has no application to the actions of Canadian soldiers who handle prisoners apprehended in the course of fighting in Afghanistan.
News release >>
December 18, 2008

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 60: Canadian Government Argues for Restricted View of Charter of Rights
The Federal Court of Appeal will hear an appeal brought by Amnesty International and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association as part of the court challenge the two organizations launched in February 2007, seeking an end to the Canadian Forces’ practice of transferring detainees apprehended in Afghanistan into the custody of Afghan officials.
News release >>
December 9, 2008

Canadian Officers Responsible for the Transfers of Detainees in Afghanistan Must Be Investigated, Say Rights Groups
The failure of the military police to investigate officers having command responsibility for directing the transfer of detainees to the Afghanistan authorities, in the face of a known risk of torture, must be examined. >>
June 11, 2008

BCCLA Supports Prevention of Torture Act
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association is supporting the introduction of the Prevention of Torture Act by the NDP’s Dawn Black in the House of Commons today. >>
May 27, 2008

BCCLA Applauds Supreme Court of Canada in Groundbreaking Constitutional Rights Case
The Supreme Court of Canada released a judgement today in Minister of Justice, et al. v. Omar Ahmed Khadr, unanimously deciding that Canada’s complicity in the process at Guantanamo Bay violated Canada’s binding obligation under international law. The BCCLA appeared as an intervenor in the case. >>
May 23, 2008

BCCLA Appears at Supreme Court of Canada in Two Groundbreaking Constitutional Rights Cases
Political advertising on public transit and Canada’s complicity in the proceedings of Omar Khadr. >>
March 25, 2008

BCCLA Legal Argument: Omar Khadr
The question raised by the appeal is what constitutional duties Canada owes Omar Khadr under the Charter in light of flagrantly illegal conduct of the American government. >>
March 3, 2008

Federal Court Ruling Powerfully Lays Out Human Rights Failings In Canada’s Afghan Prisoner Policy
Federal Court Justice Anne Mactavish has ruled today that she will not grant a temporary injunction prohibiting Canadian Forces from transferring detainees into Afghan custody. >>
February 7, 2008

Afghan Detainee Transfers
Letter revealing end to prisoner transfers. >>
January 24, 2008

Government Ceases Afghan Detainee Transfers
The Government of Canada has informed the BC Civil Liberties Association and Amnesty International Canada that it has ordered the Canadian Forces to cease all transfers of detainees into Afghan custody due to allegations of torture, effective November 5, 2007 >>
January 23, 2008

Torture Documents
Government was aware of torture of Afghan detainees.
News release >>
January 21, 2008

Canada Needs an Anti-Torture Act
Tom Sandborn argues for acceptance of anti-torture
legislation. >>
January 15, 2008

Proposed New Law Fails to Provide a Fair Hearing
The BCCLA has added its voice to the growing, national-wide call for Parliament to reject Bill C-3 which provides for the continued use of secret evidence in deportation hearings under the security certificates process. >>
November 15, 2007

Iaccobuci Inquiry
BCCLA letter to John Laskin informing the Commission of the withdrawal of the BCCLA as an intervenor.
Letter to John Laskin >>
News Release >>

Iacobucci Inquiry
Questions the public needs answered in the El Maati, Almalki and Nureddin case. >>
October 9, 2007

Letter to Prime Minister Harper
Organizations with Intervenor Status at the Iacobucci Inquiry have written an open letter to Prime Minister Harper urging him to help open up the Inquiry process by encouraging the release of documents and the holding of public hearings. >>
October 9, 2007

News Release
Intervenors call on PM to help open up the Iacobucci Inquiry. >>
October 9, 2007

Almalki, Abou-El Maati and Nureddin
Application for judicial review concerning Canadian officials in relation to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-El Maati and Muayyed Nureddin. >>
June 21, 2007

Almalki, Abou-El Maati and Nureddin:
Procedures to be Followed
Submission by International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group and BCCLA. >>
June 4, 2007

Chronology of Events Prepared by Abdullah Almalki
Based on what Abdullah and his family remembers about their encounters with law enforcement or security officials in Canada, the United States and Malaysia, and Abdullah’s detention, interrogation and torture in Syria. >>

Agreement Regarding Afghan Detainees
Board member Shirley Heafey's commentary on the new agreement between Canada and Afghanistan.>>
May 7, 2007