Federal Lawyer Denies Government Responsibility for Abousfian Abdelrazik’s Detention

During the closing arguments in Federal Court today, lawyer Andrew Gibbs vehemently denied any government responsibility for Abousfian Abdelrazik’s detention in Sudan. He dismissed Abdelrazik’s lawsuit against Canada as an elaborate theory crafted from snippets of evidence, stating that speculation and innuendo are not enough to establish federal liability for his imprisonment abroad.

Abousfian Abdelrazik, a Sudanese-born refugee who settled in Montreal and became a Canadian citizen in the 1990s, was arrested during a 2003 visit to his native country to see his ailing mother. He was subsequently jailed and questioned about suspected extremist connections. Abdelrazik, who maintains his innocence and denies any involvement in terrorism, alleges that he was tortured by Sudanese authorities during two separate periods in custody.

Abdelrazik’s lawsuit against the Canadian government asserts that officials played a role in his arbitrary imprisonment, encouraged his detention, and actively obstructed his repatriation to Canada for several years. However, Gibbs argues that there is insufficient evidence to support these claims and that the government cannot be held responsible for actions taken by a foreign state.

The case of Abousfian Abdelrazik has garnered significant attention and raised important questions about government accountability in cases of wrongful detention and human rights abuses. As the legal battle continues to unfold in Federal Court, the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the protection of Canadians abroad and the accountability of government officials.