Abdullah Almalki is a Canadian citizen who was detained, interrogated and tortured in Syria because of information that could have only originated from Canadian government agencies.
In December 2006, the Canadian government announced an internal inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act to examine the role played by Canadian officials in Abdullah's imprisonment in Syria. The inquiry was held almost entirely in secret.
The internal inquiry was called after the UNHRC called on Canada in 2005 to do an independent review of the case, and after the release of Arar Commission report in 2006, in which Commissioner O'Connor called for an independent investigation as well.
On 21/10/2008, the inquiry released its report to the public. In it, Justice Iacobucci outlines:
" I conclude that, while in Syrian detention, Mr. Almalki suffered mistreatment amounting to torture."
" .. However, I find that mistreatment suffered by Mr. Almalki in Syria resulted indirectly from two actions of Canadian officials..
"..The words "imminent threat" in particular were inflammatory, inaccurate, and lacking investigative foundation.."
" The RCMP appears to have described Mr. Almalki in this way without taking steps to ensure that the description was accurate or properly qualified. The description " linked through association to al Qaeda" and " imminent threat" did not originate in the RCMP's own investigation;... The description appear to have originated from another source; however, this source used these descriptions in respect of other individuals and not in respect of Mr. Almalki."
" I conclude that the actions of Canadian officials to provide consular services to Mr. Almalki in Syria were deficient .."
