Hassan Almrei

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A Syrian, Hassan Almrei (Arabic: حسن المري) arrived in Canada in 1999 claiming refugee-status. He used a false United Arab Emirates passport which hid his time spent in Afghanistan, and a Canadian visa which he bought on the black market for $5,000.

He was arrested on a security certificate in October 2001, following an RCMP search of his Toronto house in the wake of 9/11. The search allegedly yielded a computer containing 137 pages of photographs that included images of Osama bin Laden, firearms, a security badge and a jet cockpit.

While in prison, he staged two hunger strikes - a 39-day fast that succeeded in ensuring winter clothing and shoes in his cell during the winter, and a 73-day fast calling for an hour of exercise per day.

His case drew the attention of Alexandre Trudeau, who offered to act as a surety for Almrei.

In April 2006, he was moved to a new detention facility at Millhaven Institution, specifically meant to house those held under security certificates.