Canadian gov't appealing court ruling that ordered repatriation of 4 men in Syria

The Trudeau government is appealing a federal court order to repatriate four Canadian men imprisoned in northeast Syria. Last month, Federal Court Justice Henry Brown ruled that the government’s decision to bring back Canadian women and children but exclude the men was unconstitutional.

The Trudeau government is appealing a federal court order to repatriate four Canadian men imprisoned in northeast Syria.

The four men have been detained in prisons run by Kurdish authorities since at least 2019 but, last month, Federal Court Justice Henry Brown ruled that the government’s decision to bring back Canadian women and children but exclude the men was unconstitutional.

No evidence of terrorist activity was presented by lawyers for Global Affairs during the so called BOLOH hearings, which stands for “Bring Our Loved Ones Home.” Government lawyers argued they were not under any obligation to repatriate citizens from Syria and provide any consular assistance because Canada had closed its embassy there in 2012.

However, in its notice of appeal, the federal government outlined the grounds on which it will fight the ruling. The government says Justice Brown erred in his interpretation of section six of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protects the mobility rights of Canadians and permanent residents.

Among them is Jack Letts, who had dual British-Canadian citizenship. Letts was stripped of his British citizenship, after media in the United Kingdom reported he had joined the Islamic State. His mother, Sally Lane, contends that Letts made the admission under torture and duress.

Lane called the government's decision to appeal "a cruel delay tactic based on frivolous arguments."

In a statement provided to CTV News on Friday, Lane said: "For the Canadian government to argue that it is too difficult to repatriate my son, when Canada is in the exact same region repatriating the women and children defies logic, as well as every human rights commitment this country has ever made."