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After 17 Months in UAE Custody, Canadian Charged With Supporting Terrorism

In his first court appearance Monday, Salim Alaradi heard he is facing three charges of funding, supporting and cooperating with terrorist organizations.
Photo provided by Alaradi family

After being detained in the United Arab Emirates for 17 months without charge, a Canadian-Libyan citizen has learned he will face terrorism charges.

In his first court appearance Monday, Salim Alaradi heard he is facing three charges of funding, supporting and cooperating with terrorist organizations, according to his lawyer. The two groups he's accused of supporting are the February 17th Martyrs Brigade and Libya Dawn, well-armed pro-Islamist militias that revolted against Muammar Qaddafi in the 2011 uprising.

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"We find these charges exceedingly bizarre," Alaradi's lawyer Paul Champ said. "First of all, Mr. Alaradi has had no connection at all with these groups. He hasn't lived in Libya in over 25 years, and in any event these organizations are not terrorist groups. They were militias who rose up against Colonel Gaddafi in the civil war, and they've been internationally recognized as legitimate groups."

Neither group is listed on the Canadian government's current list of terrorist entities.

During his court appearance, which lasted about 25 minutes, Alaradi pleaded not guilty to all three charges. He also told the judge he had been tortured, and rolled up his sleeves to show marks on his arms, Champ told VICE News from Abu Dhabi.

"The judge said he didn't need to hear about that right now but that Mr. Alaradi could raise those issues during the trial."

Related: Canadian Teenager Pleads for Release of Father Detained in UAE

Champ believes Alaradi was tortured when he was held in a secret prison, and that Canadian consular officials knew of the torture allegations. Global Affairs Canada told VICE News it takes allegations of torture extremely seriously, but would not say whether it was aware of the allegations.

Champ said Alaradi is standing trial with three other men who face the same charges, Libyan Essa Manaa and two Libyan-Americans Mohammed El Darrat and Kamal El Darrat.

The two Libyan-Americans also told the judge they had been tortured.

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Alaradi supported the Libyan revolution from afar, and his brother was appointed to the National Transitional Council. That's where his political ties to Libya end, Champ said.

Alaradi's lawyer and family believe he won't get a fair trial.

The State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court is not open to the public, so Champ was not allowed inside the courtroom, however Alaradi's local counsel, the Canadian ambassador, a Canadian consular official and two American diplomats were allowed inside.

Champ said his client has no right of appeal, and that he was not allowed to speak to his local attorneys before the trial began Monday. "These are not hallmarks of a fair trial," the lawyer said.

The Canadian ambassador to the UAE assured him they will continue to do everything they can for his client. Canadian consular officials will continue to meet with Alaradi weekly, and will follow the trial closely. Champ said he has weekly updates from Global Affairs Canada.

Related: Former Inmates at Bahrain's Jaw Prison Describe Being Tortured and Teargassed

The judge adjourned the case until February 15, when the prosecution will mount evidence against the four accused.

"This is obviously a very difficult case," Champ said. "It reminds us that Canada has very strong economic and trade relationships with some countries in the middle east, like the UAE, you know we have to remember that they don't always have the same values that we do, and in those occasions we need to consider the balance that we have with trade and rights.

"I myself am proud that Canada did send its ambassador to the trial to signal I think to the UAE that Canada does see human rights as critically important to their relationship. As a Canadian citizen I'm quite proud of that fact."

Follow Hilary Beaumont on Twitter: @hilarybeaumont