Slow grill of Canadian Conservatives over Afghan detainees starts

Despite the documents pertaining to Canada's knowledge of Afghan detainees being blacked out or just not released at all, an Ottawa professor said the full release of the documents would show the government knew more than it claims.

Ottawa, ON - It was the issue the Conservative Party hoped would melt away during prorogation. But opposition parties vowed not to let the matter go, and yesterday Canada's opposition brought the issue back to the foreground in the House of Commons. Professor Amir Attaran told CBC News

"If these documents were released [in full], what they will show is that Canada partnered deliberately with the torturers in Afghanistan for the interrogation of detainees. There would be a question of rendition and a question of war crimes on the part of certain Canadian officials. That's what's in these documents, and that's why the government is covering up as hard as it can."

Attaran had obtained access to the government's documentation after filing a request under Canada's freedom of information law. In 2009, Attaran shared the results of one Department of Foreign Affairs inspection of an Afghan jail. Readers will note that, among many other details blacked out by government censors, the date of the email report was handily wiped. Censors also blacked out the number of Canadian detainees held at the jail during the time of the inspection. Canadian officials only spoke to one Afghan detainee who had been handed over by Canada. That detainee alleged he had been abused during interrogation in the Afghan jail. Pundits can argue if a date constitutes a threat to Canada's security, which is the argument offered by the Conservative Party for its continued refusal to release uncensored documents. On Friday, Conservative Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced that his party had asked retired judge Frank Iacobucci to review all the government documents on Afghanistan detainees to determine whether the government can keep the documents confidential. Federal MPs had ordered the Harper government to release the uncensored documents. The order is legal and binding, but instead of complying, Harper prorogued parliament. A Liberal MP is preparing a motion to find Harper in contempt of the order, which Harper contested at the time the order was made. Prime Minister Stephen Harper maintained the government's position in the House Question Period Friday afternoon, saying Canadian troops acted honourably in Afghanistan, that all documents had been released. Frank Iacobucci was born and educated in British Columbia and has received many honours for his work.