Last year, the issue of Canada's complicity in the torture of its own citizens became frontpage news in Canada first with the case of Maher Arar who successfully sued the Canadian government and won damages for its role in his detention and torture. View Arar's story here.28min
Then came the story of three other Canadians; all three — Abdullah Almalki, Muayyed Nureddin and Ahmad El Maati tortured in Syria and Egypt with information provided by Canadian spy agency CSIS and the RCMP. Their story also became a lead story for CBC's Peter Mansbridge.
 For many, the most visible part of the Canadian campaign to Stop Canadian Involvement in Torture has been their involvement in the Caravan to End Torture. Most Canadians do not normally associate the words "Canada" and "torture" in the same breath, yet living reminders of the increasingly disturbing connections were more than evident through the many stops the Caravan made both in May 2008 and then October 2008. This event saw more than three dozen supporters and activists throughout Central and Eastern Ontario getting involved to get the word out to Canadians about TORTURE.
 The Caravan to End Canadian Involvement in Torture was officially organized by the group Stop Canadian Involvement in Torture, which grew out of the ongoing campaign to end secret hearings and security certificates. A group of black-hooded, orange jumpsuit-wearing "detainees" symbolizing the human rights abuses rampant in the so-called war on terror were a central feature of walks through dozens of communities, vigils at the offices of MPs, and public educational events. This site has been set up with video links, text and activities to help groups and educators interested in getting more involved and educated about the issue of Torture in Canada, and to investigate the complicity of our own Canadian government in this crucial human rights issue.The cases of Nureddin, Almalki and El Maati:
 The federal government announced on Dec. 12, 2006, that it was launching an independent inquiry into the cases of three Canadians who allege they were tortured while imprisoned in Syria. All three — Abdullah Almalki, Muayyed Nureddin and Ahmad El Maati — had earlier called for an inquiry like that held in the similar case of Maher Arar. Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said the inquiry for the three men was focused on finding out whether their detentions resulted from the actions of Canadian officials and whether Canadian consular officials acted appropriately in the cases. Former Supreme Court judge Frank Iacobucci was chosen to lead the inquiry.
In October 2008, the inquiry concluded that the actions of Canadian officials contributed indirectly to the torture of the three men in Syria. "I found no evidence that any of these officials were seeking to do anything other than carry out conscientiously the duties and responsibilities of the institutions of which they were a part," wrote Iacobucci in his report. He found that the actions of the RCMP and CSIS indirectly led to the torture of El Maati, "two actions of the RCMP" indirectly led to the torture of Almalki and that certain instances of information sharing by CSIS and RCMP officials indirectly led to the torture of Nureddin. The three men have been joined by human rights groups such as Amnesty International in decrying the inquiry process, saying it was unfair, flawed and secretive. The Canadian government has said the proceedings were kept out of the public eye in order to protect national security and to hasten the inquiry process. Abdullah Almalki Abdullah Almalki was arrested in 2002 in Syria and kept in custody for 22 months. He told the CBC's The Current that Syrian interrogators beat the soles of his feet with steel cables, trying to make him confess to being a member of al-Qaeda. Almalki says the Syrians told him they were getting their information from Canada. Almalki, who knew Maher Arar before being held, was released from prison in March 2004 and returned to Canada. At the Arar inquiry hearings, an RCMP officer said Almalki was "the main target" of an anti-terrorism investigation. A report by Stephen Toope, the fact-finder for the Arar inquiry, says that his allegations of torture were "convincing."Ahmad El Maati Muayyed Nureddin
| To get an idea of the main issues involved in the Caravan to End Torture, click on the PROMO VIDEO
 This short video was produced by a camera crew that accompanied the Caravan for 8 days as they travelled from Toronto through various cities in southern Ontario, to the nation's capitol. The Caravan to End Torture travelled twice last year, once in May and later in October, visiting various cities and towns in southern Ontario, to raise awareness around the issue of Canada's complicity in torture and to educate people about ways to combat this and other forms of human rights abuse.
Recently, Toronto Action for Social Change, also known as TASC, has been involved in educating people about the issue of Canada's complicity in TORTURE, and was instrumental in organizing numerous campaigns to both raise awareness and call to action, those who strive to bring an end to this grave injustice. You can view a number of their initiatives over the last few years by going to the following link, where they highlight the need get informed and get involved in order to:
Youth Get Involved:
 In May 2008 students and staff of RFHall joined about 25 others to actively participate in the rally. The young people participated in the protest and actions at 3 different stops. Here they visit the site where Refugees are housed pending deportation to countries where they may be detained and tortured; it is near the airport on the outskirts of Toronto. Click here for a short video of the rally
Caravan Confronts SkyService  Students also got up close and personal as the Caravan travelled to the offices of SkyService Airlines where students and Caravan volunteers tried to speak with officials. Although the attempt to dialogue with SkyService Airlines, a private carrier contracted by the Canadian government to enlist rendition flights that could lead to torture, seems unsuccessful, it gives a face to what is so often done in secret behind the sight of public scrutiny.
Teacher Fasts in Solidarity
 On the 3rd day, the Caravan ventured north to Orillia. We met with the three Canadians who had been tortured.
Attending the Caravan against Torture, we realized that it teaches valuable lessons about speaking out and demanding transparency and justice from our government.
Interview with Muayyed Nureddin
 As the Caravan stopped for the mid-day meal, Gary Connolly took the opportunity to interview Muayyed Nureddin, one of the three Canadians who had been tortured in Syria & Egypt who participated in the Caravan.
Later we would have the opportunity to meet individually with Abdullah Almaki and Ahmad el Maati and hear their harrowing stories as well.
Students Get Involved at RFHall
 During the May Caravan to End Torture there were numerous activities, announcements and displays to highlight the concern of many students and staff to end Canada's complicity in practices that lead to torture. While Mr. Connolly fasted inside the chapel there was a permanent display on the outside of the chapel in which members of NSAP (North South Awarenes Project), NVAC (Non-Violent Action Committee) and No-Sweat Committees offered information and petitions to be signed - as well as daily announcements which were made to the entire school to highlight this issue during Catholic Education Week.
Watch the movie here 7min
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