By CAUT Staff
CAUT has called on the federal government to block any new extradition request from France, after a recent conviction of Canadian academic Hassan Diab by a French court.
In 2008, Dr. Diab was teaching at Carleton University in Ottawa when he was first arrested. Despite Canada’s extradition court finding the case against him to be weak, he was eventually sent to France to face charges for his alleged role in a Paris synagogue bombing in 1980 that killed four people and injured several others.
In 2018, Dr. Diab was released and returned to live with his family in Canada after a court found significant exculpatory evidence. Last month, French prosecutors tried the case again.
“It is outrageous that the French court has found Dr. Diab guilty solely on the basis of what was previously determined to be faulty and unreliable evidence,” said David Robinson, CAUT executive director.
Dr. Diab has always denied the allegations against him. Handwriting analysis allegedly identifying him as the bomber was discredited. University records and witnesses place him in Lebanon writing exams when the bombing took place in Paris.
“Hassan Diab endured solitary confinement in a French prison for three years, separation from his family, and damage to his professional career and reputation,” said Robinson.
To support CAUT’s call to block any new extradition request, send a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at iclmg.ca/diab-letter/.