Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

In Depth

Maher Arar

Timeline

Last Updated January 26, 2007

CBC News

Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen born in Syria in 1970, came to Canada in 1987. After earning bachelor's and master's degrees in computer engineering, Arar worked in Ottawa as a telecommunications engineer.

Arar with his daughter (file photo)

On a stopover in New York as he was returning to Canada from a vacation in Tunisia in September 2002, U.S. officials detained Arar, claiming he has links to al-Qaeda, and deported him to Syria, even though he was carrying a Canadian passport.

When Arar returned to Canada more than a year later, he said he had been tortured during his incarceration and accused American officials of sending him to Syria knowing that they practise torture.

His wife Monia Mazigh has a PhD in financial economics and ran for the NDP in the 2004 federal election in the riding of Ottawa South. She lost. Arar and Mazigh have two young children. In the summer of 2006, the family relocated to Kamloops, B.C., where Mazigh took a teaching position at Thompson Rivers University.

Arar and his family are seeking compensation from the federal government for his abrupt deportation and imprisonment in Syria. Judge Dennis O'Connor, who conducted the inquiry into the matter, recommended in his report dated Sept. 18, 2006 that Ottawa pay up.

TIMELINE:

Read CBCNews.ca's coverage of Maher Arar.

Go to the Top

Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

World »

BP prepares to plug damaged well
A procedure intended to ease the job of plugging BP's blown-out Gulf of Mexico well for good could start as early as the weekend, the U.S. government's point man for the spill response says.
Frenchwoman charged in baby deaths Video
A Frenchwoman who admitted suffocating eight of her newborns and concealing their corpses in the garden and garage of her home has been charged with manslaughter.
Enbridge oil not expected to reach Lake Michigan Video
Oil that spilled from an Enbridge pipeline into a southern Michigan waterway is not expected to reach Lake Michigan, U.S. officials say.
more »

Canada »

Lightning sparks 165 new B.C. wildfires Video
Lightning strikes caused an estimated 165 new wildfires in B.C.'s Interior overnight Wednesday, prompting officials to issue two new evacuation orders and call in aerial reinforcements as hot, dry weather continued.
DND computers used to change Wikipedia site
A Defence Department spokesperson confirms computers at the department's research agency were used to alter a Wikipedia site on the Joint Strike Fighter jet.
B.C. ends sex tests as researcher charged
The B.C. government has cancelled a program that tested the sexual responses of young sex offenders by attaching sensors to their genitals, after it learned one of the researchers has been charged with a sexual offence.
more »

Politics »

DND computers used to change Wikipedia site
A Defence Department spokesperson confirms computers at the department's research agency were used to alter a Wikipedia site on the Joint Strike Fighter jet.
Layton calls for census compromise Video
NDP Leader Jack Layton says he's prepared to sit down with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to reach a compromise on saving the mandatory long-form census.
Budget deficit could be gone a year early
The federal government should be able to eliminate the annual budget deficit by 2015, a year ahead of schedule, the Conference Board of Canada says.
more »

Health »

Slash salt intake, Canadians advised Video
Canadians should consume half the sodium they're now taking in from foods and drinks as part of a multi-pronged approach to cutting salt intake, according to new federal guidelines.
Coroner orders review of drowning deaths
Ontario's acting chief coroner has ordered a review of all drowning deaths in the province since May following the death of a 2½-year-old-boy in a backyard swimming pool in the Ottawa region.
N.L. medical labs lack expertise: report Video
A review of Newfoundland and Labrador's largest medical labs has found dysfunctional relationships among staff and a lack of expertise in complex areas of medical testing.
more »

Arts & Entertainment»

YouTube ups video limit to 15 minutes
Popular video-sharing website YouTube says it is ready to increase the limit it places on video uploads to 15 minutes, from the current 10 minutes.
Rocker Brian May focuses on 3-D photography Audio
Rock star, astrophysicist and animal rights activist Brian May has revealed a new obsession — stereo photographs.
Venice film fest boasts premiere-filled lineup
Barney's Version, the movie based on Mordecai Richler's acclaimed novel, is among the high-profile titles making their world debuts at this year's Venice Film Festival.
more »

Technology & Science »

Global warming signs unmistakable: report Video
A new report by 300 scientists has flagged the past decade as the hottest on record and compiled 10 'unmistakable' indicators the world is getting warmer. But the scientists mostly stayed away from discussions about the cause.
Arctic ship graves a 'rewarding' find
Parks Canada archeologists who found HMS Investigator, a British naval ship that was stranded in the Northwest Passage 155 years ago, are equally pleased to have discovered the graves of three of the ship's crew.
DND computers used to change Wikipedia site
A Defence Department spokesperson confirms computers at the department's research agency were used to alter a Wikipedia site on the Joint Strike Fighter jet.
more »

Money »

Budget deficit could be gone a year early
The federal government should be able to eliminate the annual budget deficit by 2015, a year ahead of schedule, the Conference Board of Canada says.
Google shares fall on China blocking report
Google shares fell 1.4 per cent in after-hours trading Thursday after the company said people in mainland China are being blocked from using its internet search engine.
Telecom took in $41B in 2009
Canada's communications industry took in $55.4 billion in revenue in 2009, the CRTC said Thursday, a 2.1 per cent increase from the previous year's level.
more »

Consumer Life »

Charities face garbage overload Video
Some Canadian charities are wasting time and money getting rid piles of garbage and unusable goods left in donation bins and outside thrift store outlets.
Cheeky suitcase stickers no longer for sale in Canada
A set of provocative suitcase stickers with images of a bound and gagged flight attendant, bags of cocaine, stacks of money and sex toys will no longer be sold in Canada after the transport minister implied they might be illegal.
BPA found in cash register and ATM receipts Video
The controversial chemical bisphenol A has been found in 40 per cent of receipts collected by the U.S. organization Environmental Working Group.
more »

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

Alouettes planning tough night for Boyd
Cory Boyd will try to become the first Argonaut since 1968 to rush for 100 yards in four consecutive games when Toronto visits the Montreal Alouettes Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Lopes-Schliep looks for personal best
Between the many television interviews and news conferences she's been asked to do this week, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep just wants to maintain a familiar routine.
Jays flip Wallace to Astros for Gose
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired outfielder Anthony Gose from the Houston Astros in exchange for first baseman Brett Wallace.
more »

Diversions »

NYC judge rules that wearing low-slung trousers may look foolish but is not a crime
Black bear gets in U.S. house, eats, drinks, takes stuffed bear to go
US teenage mail carriers take flying leap delivering mail on lake to avoid missing the boat
more »