CCLA Intervening Before Ontario Superior Court to Oppose Keeping Officer Names Secret in Police Accountability Cases

TORONTO — The CCLA will appear today before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice as an intervenor in the matter of Ahmad et al. v. Peel Police Regional Police Services Board et al.

The police killed Mr. Choudry, an elderly South Asian Muslim man with a history of mental health issues, when responding to a call from his family for assistance.

His family is suing the Peel Regional Police and the officers who respond to the call for wrongful death. The Peel Police Service has sought an exceptional order to keep the officers’ identities secret in the legal proceedings.

“The identities of officers in police accountability lawsuits should not be hidden from the public. It is vital that the public know about allegations of police misconduct, be able to identify repeat bad actors, and see justice be done. In cases like this one that concern a member of a marginalized community, court openness takes on even greater importance,” said Shakir Rahim, Director of the Criminal Justice Program.

You can read the CCLA’s factum ici.

The CCLA is grateful to Iris Fischer, Laura Dougan, and Sara Bolourchian of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP for their excellent pro bono representation in this matter.

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À propos de l’association canadienne sur les libertés civiles
L’ACLC est un organisme indépendant à but non lucratif qui compte des partisans dans tout le pays. Fondée en 1964, c’est une association de défense des droits de la personne qui opère à l’échelle du Canada pour défendre les droits, la dignité, la sécurité et les libertés de toute la population.

Communications avec les médias :
media@ccla.org
Alex Nanoff – 613.709.6318