Maher Arar is challenging his rendition by the U.S. government to Syria., where he was tortured and released after one year without being charged.
Maher Arar, a Syrian-born, Canadian citizen was detained during a layover at the J.F.K. Airport in New York City in September 2002 on his way home to Canada. He was held in solitary confinement for nearly two weeks. At the time, CSIS and RCMP provided information to the U.S. government labelling Arar as a member of al-Qaeda.
Mr. Arar's suit charges that his Fifth Amendment due process rights were violated when he was confined without access to an attorney, both domestically and in Syria. He is seeking civil damages from a number of federal officials including former Attorney General John Ashcroft.
