Image Credit: Garudeya | Dreamstime.com

By Kate Bouey / Vernon Matters

RELEASE ORDER STAYED

Court rules ISIS supporter can’t live in Enderby

Aug 13, 2019 | 3:11 PM

VANCOUVER — A Jordanian man who expressed support for the terror group, ISIS, will not be living in Enderby as planned under a release order, at least for the time being.

The federal court has granted a stay of that order leaving Othman Ayed Hamdan in immigration detention until a judicial review is heard later this month.

In the decision released in Vancouver on Tuesday, Justice Gascon said “the harm to the public that this stay motion seeks to prevent outweighs the inconvenience resulting from Mr. Hamdan’s continued detention for an additional short period of time.”

Hamdan entered Canada in July 2002 and was granted refugee status on the basis of his fear of persecution due to his conversion from Islam to Christianity.

However, the Jordanian national was placed in immigration detention in September 2017, after he was acquitted of terrorism-related criminal offences for statements posted on his Facebook accounts in support of the Islamic State (ISIS).

BC Votes

STREAMING: Kamloops All-Candidates Forums

Sep 30, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Someone finally takes the lead in reducing plastics

Sep 29, 2024

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of Sept. 23

Sep 28, 2024

He has been in immigration detention since then.

Canadian immigration officials believed the online postings showed Hamdan could be a danger to national security.

Hamdan’s refugee status has been revoked and he is the subject of a deportation order.

On Aug. 2, an order was issued allowing Hamdan to leave detention under strict conditions, including limited access to the internet and a requirement he live with a friend in Enderby who put up a $2,000 bond, according to a Global News story earlier this month.

That order has now been stayed.

“I note that, even though the release order often referred to the proper supervision of Mr. Hamdan as being an important element in virtually eliminating the danger he poses to the public, the terms and conditions imposed on Mr. Hamdan do not require him to be in the presence of the bondsperson and do not provide for his continuous supervision,” Gascon said in today’s ruling.

The court has given leave for a judicial review of the release order which will be heard on August 29 in Vancouver.