The old carpet has not been replaced yet, and one of the walls in the banquet room still needs to be knocked down. But the essential pieces of a new restaurant—the tables, the light fixtures, and that bright blue sign hanging over the front door—were put in place a few weeks ago, just in time for the grand opening. "We’re going to set up the espresso machines over there," says Yasin Abdi Mohamed, walking through the dining room and into the kitchen. "And this is where the craziness happens. It gets pretty busy in here."

In an open letter, the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) in partnership with the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF), Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC), Federation of Muslim Women (FMW), Islamic Ahlul Bayt Assembly of Canada, Islamic Circle of North America Canada (ICNA Canada), Islamic Society of North America Canada (ISNA Canada) and Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), along with an additional 11 organizations, today asked authorities to consider reasonable bail terms and re-examine the use of solitary confinement for the "Toronto 11."

Subject: Authorities asked to consider reasonable bail terms and re-examine solitary confinement for 'Toronto 11'

April 22, 2008

During the week of April 14, 2008, charges against four more of the "Toronto 18" were stayed. Along with the three men who were previously released, the case of the "Toronto 18" has now been whittled down to the "Toronto 11."

As representatives of Canada's Muslim communities, we are committed to Canada's security, while also ensuring that due process and civil liberties are respected. Thus, in consideration of the public knowledge we have of the cases, and the impact the proceedings have had on the accused and their families, we are requesting an end to solitary confinement and that their right to reasonable bail be seriously considered.

Zealous prosecutors seeking convictions against terrorism suspects dubbed the "Toronto 18" have trampled due process and the presumption of innocence, sanctioning lengthy solitary confinement that amounts to torture, a group of demonstrators said yesterday.

About 150 people descended on a Brampton courthouse as 20-year-old Saad Gaya's second bail hearing began inside. Mr. Gaya is charged in an alleged explosives plot, and remains in custody after spending a year in solitary confinement.

Follow original story here

Feels like June 2^nd all over again.

March 31, 2008

by Beenish Gaya 

The trial of the only remaining youth in the Toronto 18 case commenced last week in a Brampton courtroom.  The new details disclosed in the Crown factum filed in the case elicited depressingly new emotional lows in all of the accused and their families.  Reminiscent of that fateful day in June, 2006, the media sensationalism started all over again, with the reporting of incomplete evidence and outrageous headlines. Having attended the entire preliminary hearing, I must confess my shock and disbelief at the fact that these allegations continue to be presented in a manner which precludes the public from seeing a complete or accurate picture.

Source: http://weingarten.ca/

PRESS RELEASE

NEW FILM VINDICATES TORONTO TERROR SUSPECTS; ALLEGES ENTRAPMENT BY RCMP

Shocking facts about alleged “homegrown terrorism” in Toronto are revealed for the first time in a new and independent documentary.

• Unfair Dealing - Part 1
• Unfair Dealing - Part 2
• Unfair Dealing - Part 3
• Unfair Dealing - Part 4
• Unfair Dealing - Part 5
• Unfair Dealing - Part 6