Ahmad Ghany
| Ahmad Ghany | |
|---|---|
| Born |
September 27, 1984 Mississauga, Canada |
| Occupation | McMaster University Health Sciences Student |
Criminal charge | 2006 Toronto terrorism arrests |
| Spouse(s) | Rana Farooq |
| Parents | Farouk Abdul Ghany |
| Conviction(s) | Not guilty, charges dropped |
Born on September 27, 1984 in Mississauga, Ontario, Ahmad Mustafa Ghany is a 2004 graduate of McMaster University's health sciences program, and was one of 17 people initially arrested in the 2006 Toronto terrorism arrests.
Two years later, he was among the suspects in the alleged terrorism case who were released and had all charges dropped.
Life
Ghany is the son of urologist Ghany, who moved to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago in 1955.[1] His family moved briefly to Saudi Arabia a year after Ghany's birth and the death of his father's son from a previous marriage, while his parents taught at King Saud University. They returned to Canada.
Arrest
On June 2, 2006, the 21-year old Ghany was driving his Lexus car along the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, when police vehicles surrounded him and forced the car to the side of the road, where they arrested, handcuffed and searched Ghany. .[2]
Friends and family expressed disbelief at Ghany's arrest, stating that he was "the most quiet guy ever", and "kind of a nerd". Some alleged that it was simply because his wife's brother-in-law was Zakaria Amara, an alleged ringleader seized during the arrests.[2] Similarly, one of the young offenders arrested in the case also attended McMaster's health program and was cited as a friend of Ghany.[3]
Charges, bail and release
Represented by Rocco Galati, Ghany was held at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex.[3] He was charged under the Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act with participating in a terrorist group, and training for terrorist purposes.[4] The charges stemmed from the fact he attended a winter camp near Washago that prosecutors have alleged was planned as an opportunity to hone their terrorist skills. Ghany was only at the camp for three days, helping to set up the site, playing paintball and leaving early.[4]
Six weeks after the arrests, Ghany became the second suspect to be granted bail as he was released by Justice Hilda Weiss on a $140,000 pledge on July 20 on the condition that he could not leave his parents' house unaccompanied unless going to school, work or to see his lawyer. He had to report to police weekly, and could not communicate with the other suspects in the case.[1]
The resulting media frenzy saw references to a Quran at his trial causing him to smile, and his wife's online comments as Al-Mujahidah on a forum set up by her sister analysed.[5]
On April 15, 2008, nearly two years after the arrests, all charges were dropped against Ghany, Qayyum Abdul Jamal, Ibrahim Aboud and Yasim Mohamed.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 CBC, 2nd suspect in terrorist-related activities gets bail, July 20, 2006
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday, Canada's TT terror suspect, June 11, 2006
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Nelson, Marissa. Hamilton Spectator, "2nd Mac student one of 17 charged", June 23, 2006
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Teotonio, Isabel. Toronto Star, Four have terror charges stayed, April 15, 2008
- ↑ El Akkad, Omar & Greg McArthur. Globe and Mail, "Hateful chatter behind the veil", June 29, 2006
- ↑ CTV News, Charges stayed against four in T.O. terror case, April 15, 2008
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