Canada Lawyers Protest Blackout

Lawyers for some Muslim terrorism suspects held in an alleged plot to blow up Ontario buildings complained Monday about a media blackout on courtroom proceedings.

Fourteen of the 17 suspects arrested appeared Monday at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton, just west of Toronto.

Some of the lawyers also complained about how their clients were being treated in custody. Authorities said detainees were receiving standard treatment and the allegations would be investigated.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said June 2 that authorities had foiled a terrorist plot against targets in Ontario, saying the suspects had obtained 3 tons of ammonium nitrate, three times the amount used in the 1995 Oklahoma City federal building bombing that killed 168 people.

Officials have alleged that the suspects were inspired by Al Qaeda, whose leader, Osama bin Laden, has named Canada as one of the top five countries to be attacked.

Justice Keith Currie banned the media from reporting details of courtroom proceedings at the request of prosecutors. Currie said the prohibition would remain until the cases were resolved, which could take years. The ban does not apply to information obtained outside the court.

Canada’s criminal code allows judges to ban publishing details from court hearings in an effort to protect the suspect’s right to a fair trial.

Some defense attorneys said their clients would be helped if the details of the case were made public. They have expressed anger over media reports that included leaked details of the evidence against their clients.

“Justice would be better served by accurately reporting what precisely happened in the court, rather than speculate,” said Arif Raza, a lawyer for Saad Khalid, 19.

Rocco Galati, who represents Ahmad Mustafa Ghany, 21, said that he would file a motion asking the court to lift the ban and allow for live television broadcasts of the hearings. Galati also said that the suspects were being awakened every 30 minutes and kept in isolation in a room lighted 24 hours a day.