In a high-profile lawsuit, former diplomat Scott Heatherington testified that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) opposed the return of Abousfian Abdelrazik to Canada during his detention in Sudan. Abdelrazik, a Montreal resident, is suing the Canadian government for $27 million, alleging its actions contributed to his prolonged imprisonment and mistreatment abroad.
Heatherington, once director of foreign intelligence at Foreign Affairs, provided insight into the federal government’s handling of Abdelrazik’s case during the civil trial. Abdelrazik claims Canada facilitated his detention by Sudanese authorities and actively obstructed his efforts to return home.
The government denies these allegations, asserting it did not pressure Sudan to detain Abdelrazik nor was it responsible for his treatment.
Arrest and Alleged Obstruction
Abdelrazik, now 62, was arrested in Sudan in 2003 while visiting his mother. Sudanese authorities, with participation from CSIS agents, interrogated him over alleged extremist ties—accusations he has consistently denied. Emails presented in court revealed CSIS believed Abdelrazik posed a security threat, despite his detention.
One redacted email from a CSIS official to Heatherington stated:
> “What threats would ensue if Abdelrazik is released? The same high level of threat he posed prior to his incarceration. What threat does he pose to Canadian interests while he is detained? None.”
Paul Champ, Abdelrazik’s lawyer, argued this correspondence illustrated CSIS’s intention to keep Abdelrazik in detention. Heatherington acknowledged in court that CSIS viewed Abdelrazik as a dangerous individual and opposed his repatriation.
Sudanese Detention: Diplomatic Implications
Court documents showed Sudanese officials had indicated Abdelrazik’s impending release in December 2003. However, CSIS planned another visit to Khartoum around that time, and Foreign Affairs communicated that the visit might influence Sudan’s decision to release Abdelrazik.
Champ suggested Foreign Affairs deliberately delayed efforts to secure Abdelrazik’s freedom to allow CSIS further access to him in Sudan. Heatherington denied deliberate obstruction, emphasizing that Foreign Affairs’ official stance was for Sudan to either charge or release Abdelrazik.
“It’s messy,” Heatherington testified, referencing conflicting priorities between safeguarding Abdelrazik’s rights and protecting Canadian security interests.
Legal and Constitutional Fallout
Abdelrazik was released from Sudanese custody in 2004, only to be detained again in 2006. In 2008, he sought refuge at the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum. A year later, a federal court ruled that Canada violated his constitutional rights by refusing to issue an emergency travel document, facilitating his return.
Despite CSIS’s claims that it did not request Sudan to detain Abdelrazik, the RCMP publicly cleared him of any terrorism-related activities in 2007, stating no substantive evidence linked him to criminal behavior.
As the trial continues, Abdelrazik’s case underscores the tension between national security measures and individual rights in Canada’s counterterrorism efforts.
Source : The Canadian Press
