An Ottawa man jailed for his part in a terrorist conspiracy has become the latest person to challenge new provisions of a controversial bill that permits the Canadian government to revoke the citizenship of someone convicted of terrorism, treason and espionage if that person also holds citizenship in another country.
In an application to the Federal Court of Canada, Iranian-born Hiva Alizadeh says stripping him of his Canadian citizenship violates Canada’s Charter of Rights.
He also argues that taking away his citizenship would improperly deny him the right to vote and prevent him from freely entering and remaining in Canada.
Alizadeh’s case will proceed in tandem with those of several other convicted terrorists challenging the citizenship revocation provisions contained in Bill C-24, passed earlier this year.
The bill has raised hackles in Canada with critics comparing to the medieval practice of banishment, and the new provisions in the bill are currently being challenged in court by a coalition of civil liberties groups.
They have also been the subject of heated debate among party leaders in the campaign leading to Canada’s Oct. 19 general election.
Conservative leader Stephen Harper defends the new measures. Both NDP leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau say they will repeal the bill if they are elected.
Alizadeh, now 36, immigrated to Canada nine years ago and lived mainly in Winnipeg, working as a janitor and dropping out of school twice.
He was arrested in Ottawa in August, 2010 along with two other men.
Police seized terrorist literature, videos and manuals along with dozens of electronic circuit boards designed to detonate homemade bombs remotely.
Alizadeh was sentenced to 24 years in prison upon pleading guilty last year to possessing explosives with intent to do harm.
A state source in Pakistan and a source in Canada familiar with the investigation told CBC News that police believe Alizadeh travelled to Pakistan seeking terrorist training.
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