French appeal court orders new review of evidence in Hassan Diab case
OTTAWA — The decade-long ordeal of Ottawa academic Hassan Diab, suspected by French authorities of being involved in a deadly bombing in Paris, showed no signs of ending on Friday after an appeal court ordered a fresh review of evidence in the case.
The French Court of Appeal’s decision sparked immediate rebukes from Diab, his lawyer and human-rights groups, as well as fresh calls for Ottawa to launch a public inquiry into Diab’s case and to review the Extradition Act to ensure other Canadians aren’t caught in the same situation.
“It’s long overdue for the Canadian government to seriously reform Canada’s extradition law,” Diab said during a news conference on Parliament Hill.
“The law as it stands is an affront to basic rights, due process and justice and it puts all Canadians at risk of potential, wrongful extradition.”