Toronto, Aug 28: Muslim leaders has protested that 19 men - 18 from Pakistan and one from India - were detained and investigated due to racial profiling rather than evidence of terrorism. "Enough is enough," said Amina Sherazee of the Muslim Canadian Congress yesterday, adding the men were victims of unlawful arrest and violations of their human rights.

The men were arrested on August 14 as possible national security threats in police raids under an investigation named operation thread. No criminal charges have been filed, though some of the detainees were illegal immigrants, according to immigration officials. All faced hearings that started yesterday on whether they should remain in custody while their possible deportations move through the immigration appeal process.

Four of the first five cases heard resulted in the suspects ordered to remain in detention by the immigration and refugee board, a private agency that decides refugee and other immigration cases. The other was adjourned until today, when the others also will be heard. According to evidence at one of the hearings, Muhammad Asif Aziz entered Canada in 1999 by hiding in a truck and provided authorities with a different name. Cathie simmie of the immigration and refugee board said police needed more time to investigate whether Aziz is a security threat.

Aziz took part in the hearing by videolink from a Toronto-area detention center where he and the other 18 men are being held.

Bureau Report