Justice for Mohammad Mahjoub

Five Muslim men have been held, as of September 2005, a collective total of 219 months in Canadian prisons, much of it in solitary confinement, without charge, without bail, on "secret evidence" which neither they nor their lawyers are allowed to see. They are men with wives and children they cannot touch or hug. None has ever been convicted of any criminal offence in Canada. Mohammad Mahjoub (held since June 2000) now on hunger strike since 2 months, has been denied proper medical help for his chronic Hepatitis C and a knee injury. And despite numerous appeals, he has been refused touch visits with his family.

We are gathering the names of organizations and individuals that will be presented to the Canadian Government and those responsible for his detention.

If signing as an individual, please include your geographic location and position (where relevant).


Statement demanding basic rights for Mohammad Mahjoub:


We, the undersigned, have grave concerns that Mohammad Mahjoub, despite his severe illness has been continuously denied his rights. We demand the Canadian Government and those responsible (Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, Prime Minister Paul Martin, Deputy PM Anne McLellan, Immigration Minister Joe Volpe and Ontario Minister for Corrections Monte Kwinter) that his following needs be met as soon as possible:

a monthly contact visit with his children, denied to him after more than five years at Metro West;

proper medical treatment, including care for a knee injury sustained in jail, a liver biopsy to properly assess the Hepatitis C he contracted at the jail (which, despite being recommended by a doctor, has been denied for undisclosed security reasons) and a pair of glasses.