Sheila Steele
James Loney
Loney feels terror suspects being unfairly judged
CTV.ca News Staff video
Canadian peace activist James Loney, who was held captive in Iraq for four months, feels many people may already be convicting the 17 accused terrorists before they are tried.
"I guess I'm feeling a bit cautious about (the weekend arrests)," Loney told CTV's Canada AM Wednesday.
"These men are innocent until they are proven guilty on their day in court, and they need to be given the benefit of the doubt like any other citizen."
Loney made the comments in his first television interview since being rescued by coalition forces in Baghdad in late March.
The Christian Peacemaker Teams volunteer was in Kingston Wednesday to participate in a protest march against Canada's system of detaining suspected foreign terrorists indefinitely without charge or trial.
As a former hostage, Loney said he feels a kinship with the Muslim men currently detained as threats to national security.
"I think that freedom is a very precious thing, and it was taken away from me unjustly by kidnappers," he said.
"We have five men currently being held on security certificates who have been in jail between four and six years without trial, without seeing evidence against them, without appeal, and without really any due process.
"I'm concerned that this may be an unjust deprival of their freedom because it is not backed up by any transparent process."
Loney said he was "profoundly moved" when his partner Dan told him about an open letter three of the suspects wrote in December urging Loney's captors to release him.
"When he said that these men had done this for me and had said that they cared about my freedom more than their own, I thought 'How could anyone say that,' especially after I know how painful it is to have your freedom taken away?" he said.
"It was very humbling, and I just felt so unworthy of that."
Loney was one of four Christian Peacemaker snatched off the streets of violence-stricken Baghdad in late November, one of whom was later shot dead. The subsequent rescue made headlines around the world.
Loney said he is "still trying to figure out" how his life has changed since his ordeal.
"I think I have a deeper understanding and kinship with people who are prisoners and are deprived of their freedom and are suffering, and just also how amazing every day is," he said.
Loney used examples such as opening the fridge door, washing the dishes and going for a walk as "wonderful things about everyday life that I never really appreciated before."
He said his transition from captivity to normal life has been very good, particularly because of the support of his family and friends.
Loney said he hasn't ruled out a return to Iraq, but has realistic reservations.
"I would like to (return), and maybe when there is peace. I would be high on a re-kidnapped list, I think, and probably wouldn't have the luxury of getting out a second time."
He said there are a few Christian Peacemaker volunteers still in Iraq, and the organization is assessing whether or not it makes sense to continue their work there.
The week-long protest march Loney has joined ends in Ottawa Saturday, where a week-long vigil will take place.
The vigil will coincide with Supreme Court of Canada hearings on the constitutionality of the national security certificates and indefinite detention.
James Loney
Loney feels terror suspects being unfairly judged
CTV.ca News Staff video
Canadian peace activist James Loney, who was held captive in Iraq for four months, feels many people may already be convicting the 17 accused terrorists before they are tried.
"I guess I'm feeling a bit cautious about (the weekend arrests)," Loney told CTV's Canada AM Wednesday.
"These men are innocent until they are proven guilty on their day in court, and they need to be given the benefit of the doubt like any other citizen."
Loney made the comments in his first television interview since being rescued by coalition forces in Baghdad in late March.
The Christian Peacemaker Teams volunteer was in Kingston Wednesday to participate in a protest march against Canada's system of detaining suspected foreign terrorists indefinitely without charge or trial.
As a former hostage, Loney said he feels a kinship with the Muslim men currently detained as threats to national security.
"I think that freedom is a very precious thing, and it was taken away from me unjustly by kidnappers," he said.
"We have five men currently being held on security certificates who have been in jail between four and six years without trial, without seeing evidence against them, without appeal, and without really any due process.
"I'm concerned that this may be an unjust deprival of their freedom because it is not backed up by any transparent process."
Loney said he was "profoundly moved" when his partner Dan told him about an open letter three of the suspects wrote in December urging Loney's captors to release him.
"When he said that these men had done this for me and had said that they cared about my freedom more than their own, I thought 'How could anyone say that,' especially after I know how painful it is to have your freedom taken away?" he said.
"It was very humbling, and I just felt so unworthy of that."
Loney was one of four Christian Peacemaker snatched off the streets of violence-stricken Baghdad in late November, one of whom was later shot dead. The subsequent rescue made headlines around the world.
Loney said he is "still trying to figure out" how his life has changed since his ordeal.
"I think I have a deeper understanding and kinship with people who are prisoners and are deprived of their freedom and are suffering, and just also how amazing every day is," he said.
Loney used examples such as opening the fridge door, washing the dishes and going for a walk as "wonderful things about everyday life that I never really appreciated before."
He said his transition from captivity to normal life has been very good, particularly because of the support of his family and friends.
Loney said he hasn't ruled out a return to Iraq, but has realistic reservations.
"I would like to (return), and maybe when there is peace. I would be high on a re-kidnapped list, I think, and probably wouldn't have the luxury of getting out a second time."
He said there are a few Christian Peacemaker volunteers still in Iraq, and the organization is assessing whether or not it makes sense to continue their work there.
The week-long protest march Loney has joined ends in Ottawa Saturday, where a week-long vigil will take place.
The vigil will coincide with Supreme Court of Canada hearings on the constitutionality of the national security certificates and indefinite detention.