“I need to know why all this happened,” Mr. Almrei said in an interview. “And I need somebody to be held accountable for what happened.” In December, Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley struck down a security certificate against Mr. Almrei, arrested in October, 2001, on suspicion of terrorism.

Mr. Almrei, 36, came to Canada in January, 1999, on a false United Arab Emirates passport and attained refugee status the next year.

Judge Mosley said there were reasonable grounds to believe Mr. Almrei was a security danger when he was detained just after the Sept. 11 attacks – but none now.

The suit names the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the RCMP, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency. It claims damages for alleged breaches including negligent investigation, false imprisonment, abuse of public office, defamation and violations of Charter of Rights guarantees.

He’s dismayed he hasn’t received any kind of apology from the government, and says a successful suit would help wipe away any lingering stigma.

“Just acknowledge what happened to me.”

Source: The Globe and Mail