Sen. Patrick Leahy Questions Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Extraordinary Rendition Victim Maher Arar

The Bush administration’s handling of the case of Maher Arar came under new scrutiny Thursday when Attorney General Alberto Gonzales appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, now controlled by the Democrats. Arar is the Canadian citizen who was seized by U.S. officials during a stopover flight in New York in 2002. He was secretly sent to Syria as part of the Bush administration's extraordinary rendition program.

In Syria, Arar was held for almost a year in a grave-like cell. He was repeatedly tortured. He was released without ever being charged with a crime. Last year, the Canadian government determined Maher Arar was innocent but the Bush administration has never apologized for its actions.

On Thursday Attorney General Alberto Gonzales refused to state why the U.S. detained him and why he was sent to Syria instead of his home in Canada. The attorney general was questioned by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy – the new chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

* Senator Patrick Leahy questioning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Maher Arar is still awaiting for an apology from the Bush administration. Three months ago, Arar was honored in Washington DC by the Institute for Policy Studies. But he was unable to attend the ceremony because he remains on the U.S. no-fly list even though the Canadian government has publicly acknowledged he is innocent. This is part of a video message Maher Arar recorded for the awards ceremony.

* Maher Arar, speaking in October.

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