Canadian human rights activists went to the country’s department of Justice to deliver a petition signed by hundreds of organizations and individuals to demand a stop to the extradition of Hassan Diab to France.
Dr. Diab is a Canadian citizen and professor of sociology who was arrested by Canadian police in November 2008 after France accused him of being involved in the 1980 Paris Synagogue bombing, a charge he strongly denies.
French authorities have alleged that Diab’s handwriting appears in a hotel registration card related to the bombing. Canadian handwriting experts however have dismissed this and also Diab’s passport indicates that he was not in France at the time of the bombing, nevertheless in June 2011 a Canadian judge ruled for his extradition.
Under Canadian law the minister of Justice has the power to stop the extradition, however police prevented the activists from even entering the building to deliver the petition.
Rob Nicholson, the Canadian Minister of Justice has yet to announce his decision.
Even though Canadian courts have admitted that the case against Dr Diab is very weak, however the question remains on why they want to extradite him to France.
