Ottawa – On Monday, June 11, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear a series of cases involving the constitutionality of certain provisions in the Anti-Terrorism Act.

R. v. Khawaja; United States v. Nadarajah; and United States v. Sriskandarajah will be heard at the Supreme Court of Canada on June 11, 2012. These companion cases deal with the constitutionality of the definition of “terrorist activity” and its operation throughout the terrorism provisions of the Criminal Code. These provisions were enacted shortly after the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 as part of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

These cases consider, among other things, whether the broad definition of “terrorist activity” in the Criminal Code unjustifiably infringes on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The BCCLA is an intervener in this case. It will argue that the challenged provisions violate freedom of expression because they prohibit expressive political and religious activity that does not involve violence or the threat of violence, and criminalizes an overly broad range of expressive conduct. 

The BCCLA is represented by Kent Roach of the University of Toronto and Robert Centa and Michael Fenrick of Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP.

The BCCLA’s argument in the case is available here >>

What: Supreme Court of Canada will hear oral arguments in R. v. Khawaja; United States v. Nadarajah; and United States v. Sriskandarajah

When: Oral arguments before the court begin on Monday, June 11, 2012 at 6:00 am PST/ 9:00 am EST.

Where: Supreme Court of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario)

Who: Lawyer for the BCCLA available for comment