A/HRC/13/42*
page 158
were shackled. He underwent multiple interrogations and was kept in isolation for three weeks.
Date of release
30 March 2007.
Additional information
While in Bagram, he was able to meet with the ICRC and send letters to his family through
them.
* Information contained is from an interview with interviewee and other credible sources.
Case 5 - Biographic details
Name of interviewee
Nationality/country of origin
Mr. Maher Arar*
Canadian (national of the Syrian Arab
Republic)
Male
Gender
Detention
Date of initial detention
26 September 2002
Location of initial detention
John F. Kennedy Airport, New York, United States of America (he was in transit on the way
home to Canada, following a visit to Tunisia)
Grounds of initial detention
He was detained on the basis of information provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP) that he was a suspected terrorist and a possible member of the Muslim Brotherhood
and/or Al-Qaida. Formal charges were never filed in Canada, the USA or the Syrian Arab
Republic.
The authority(ies) involved in the detention
He was detained and interrogated by officials from the United States of America based on
unverified information provided by the RCMP. He was deported by US authorities and
transferred to Jordanian officials and then turned over to the Syrian authorities, including the
Syrian military intelligence who held him under special powers given to the National
Intelligence Services.
Total period of detention
From 26 September 2002 to 5 October 2003.
Duration of secret detention
Approximately 1 month, from 26 September 2002 to end of October 2002.
Site(s) of detention, including sites of possible transit
1. On 26 September 2002, he was detained at JFK airport, NY, USA and held in the
Metropolitan Detention Centre in Manhattan for eleven days (26 September to 7 October
2002).
2. On 8 October 2002, he was transported to the Syrian Arab Republic, via 2 stopovers in
Rome, Italy and Amman, Jordan. During this time he was chained and shackled in the back of
a plane.
3. He saw a photo of President Assad which indicated to him he was in the Syrian Arab
Republic. He was later told that he was in Far Falestin detention centre. He was held here for
10 and half months.
4. On 20 August 2003, he was transferred to Sednaya Prison in Syria until his release on 5
October 2003.
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents