Kingston man’s life altered after arrest, release by the RCMP

The lawyer for a Kingston man says his client’s life will never be the same after he was arrested and interrogated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in relation to a national security investigation last week.

“He’s not going to have a normal life now,” Mohamed El Rashidy said of his 20-year-old client, Hussam Eddin Alzahabi. “He’s not stupid. He doesn’t feel welcome anywhere he goes. I can’t put him in a bubble. I’m sure he’s seeing what I’m seeing in terms of racist comments and threats. …

“He’s stuck, both with the trauma and his life being completely on hold. He’s done nothing wrong, but he can’t go back to life prior to these events.”

Alzahabi and a 16-year-old boy were arrested last Thursday afternoon after the RCMP executed search warrants at homes on Macdonnell Street and Kingsdale Avenue. Explosives and elements of explosives were seized from one of the homes, and the RCMP said there was a credible bombing attack plan, but a time and place for it hadn’t been established.

The teen, who can’t be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged with knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity and with counselling someone to use an explosive or other lethal device to cause death or serious bodily injury. Alzahabi was released without charges.

Alzahabi is now “as free as you or I, in terms of where he stands in the legal system,” El Rashidy of Mississauga’s Rashidy and Associates said. “He’s not involved in anything illegal. The actions of police made that very clear.”

When asked about an update on the investigation, Cpl. Louise Savard of the RCMP said they “have no other information available at this time.” At a news conference on Friday afternoon, Supt. Peter Lambertucci, officer in charge of the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) Ottawa for the RCMP, said they were still investigating.

Alzahabi and his father weren’t home at the time their home was searched, El Rashidy said. He explained that Alzahabi’s “mom took the brunt of it,” as RCMP officers blew off the door with their rifles drawn. Officers seized all electronic devices and storage devices that could store data. El Rashidy emphasized that he isn’t criticizing how the RCMP did their job, but it was a traumatic incident for the family.

The Alzahabi family came to Canada as refugees about two years ago after fleeing war-torn Damascus for Kuwait. Their home in Syria has been destroyed. The family was sponsored to come to Kingston by four local churches.

El Rashidy said first thing that he had to explain to his client while he was in custody who the RCMP actually is. The lawyer described the interrogation as a “really rough time” that his client soon won’t forget.

Alzahabi now understands that his conversations and activities were misunderstood, El Rashidy said. The lawyer added that the whole situation is very nuanced and will be able to be explained more clearly once the judicial process unfolds.

“The RCMP releasing [Alzahabi] after all the political pressure and the social atmosphere, that shows some integrity and respect on their part,” El Rashidy said. “I appreciate that because many police forces do not show that kind of backbone to stand up for what is right.

“They had one perspective, one view, then conducted further investigation and interrogation. They got more information and they were honest enough to say, ‘OK, we’ve changed our point of view.’ … Isn’t that how we want things to be? They could have doubled down and buried the kid.”

El Rashidy challenges anyone who is questioning Alzahabi’s innocence.

“Let’s call it like it is: you don’t release a person in a potential bomb plot if you think he is a part of it,” El Rashidy said. “He has been released. Why are people still talking about him like he is the anti-Christ? I don’t understand. …

“To be frank, when I take a step back and try to assess it, it doesn’t look to me like it has anything to do with the charges. This just has to do with hatred towards him because of who he is.”

El Rashidy said he’s tried to guard his client from the hatred online, and Alzahabi has put on a brave face, but those close to him have admitted the 20-year-old is struggling.

“He’s a really good kid. He’s really positive,” El Rashidy said. “I get more information from people around him. They hear him at night waking up screaming. He’s having nightmares and he’s struggling, but he’s a typical 20-year-old. He’s trying to tough it out and act like it is all good.”