Legislation Bans Use Of Evidence Tied To Torture

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency this month admitted to "waterboarding" Abu Zubaydah to get information about possible terrorist cells. The interrogation method is designed to make a suspect talk by inducing fears he is drowning. "I can confirm that the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration will not rely upon information provided by Mr. Zubaida," John Sims, deputy minister of Justice Canada, wrote in a Jan. 11 letter. The correspondence was sent to defence lawyer Paul Copeland, who represents an Algerian held under a security certificate. Mr. Sims's letter pointed out that Canadian judges were already giving "no weight" to the Abu Zubaydah evidence. The old law left admissibility of such evidence up to individual judges. The new law, Bill C-3, was passed by both Houses this winter and will be imminently enacted by an order-in-council. A parliamentary committee wrote in provisions to exclude evidence obtained through torture, defined as "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment." ... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080222.wjustice22/BNStory/National/

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