OTTAWA — A potentially groundbreaking case on federal responsibility in torture cases has the green light from the Federal Court of Canada.
The court has dismissed the federal government's attempt to strike out much of the lawsuit filed by Abousfian Abdelrazik.
The Montreal man was arrested but not charged during a 2003 visit to Sudan to see his ill mother.
Abelrazik alleges negligence on the part of Canadian Security Intelligence Service officials that resulted in his detention and caused him severe physical and mental injuries.
Paul Champ, Abdelrazik's lawyer, says the ruling is notable because it clearly recognizes torture as grounds for a lawsuit.
He says it also opens the court's door to other Canadian citizens abused in detention abroad "while Canadian officials did little or nothing to help."
