The Zundelsite - NO PILLOW, NO CHAIR, NO PENS -- Important: Zundel Hearings resume

July 27, 2003

ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny: Now more than ever!

Today's ZGram is partly meant as a media alert - again sent as a press release by Paul Fromm, Ernst Zundel's on-location legal representative Director of the CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR FREE EXPRESSION:

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ZUNDEL HEARINGS RESUME JULY 28; CUSTOMS HARASS DEFENCE TEAM

July 27, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hearings resume Monday, July 28, in Federal Court in Toronto (361 University Avenue) in the case of German born publisher Ernst Zundel. The purpose hearings before Mr. Justice Blais is twofold: to consider application for Mr. Zundel's release from detention and to consider the reasonableness of a CSIS certificate branding the German pacifist and Revisionist publisher a "terrorist" and a threat to national security.

The defence team, led by Victoria lawyer and noted free speech defender Douglas H. Christie, will be pressing for Mr. Zundel's release. Zundel, who has been under attack for his unorthodox historical ideas since 1980, has been the object of continued harassment by the anti-free speech lobby in Canada. The defence team will point to Mr. Zundel's long history of compliance with more than a dozen bails and court orders over the years.

Prior to the hearing before Mr. Justice Blais, Mr. Christie will file a motion of habeas corpus in Ontario Superior Court in an effort to affect Mr. Zundel's release.

"Ernst Zundel is prevented by the mediaeval prison conditions from preparing an adequate defence for his several Canadian and American legal cases," says Paul Fromm of the Canadian Association for Free Expression. "Despite repeated representations to prison authorities and to the Minister, Mr. Zundel is denied pens, post-it notes, highlighters and even a chair. His sole means of marking up volumes of legal documents are stubs of pencils, like the ones you'd use on your scorecard in a bowling alley," Fromm explains. "Despite assurances from the Ministry of Public Safety and Security that stationery materials are permitted to prisoners, I've been told by prison authorities that these items are 'contraband,'" Fromm charges.

Three days, July 28-30, are scheduled for this round in the Zundel case, which began May 9. Mr. Zundel came to Canada as a landed immigrant in 1958.

He was a highly successful graphic artist. In 2000, he moved to the U.S. and married a U.S. citizen, author Ingrid Rimland, [Ed.D.] an education psychologist. Mr. Zundel was deported to Canada, February 19, on alleged immigration violations. He vigorously rejects these charges and is pursuing redress in the American courts before the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati.

"There is clear evidence of a murderous hostility on the part of the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service toward Mr. Zundel," Fromm charges. He points to the book COVERT ENTRY by journalist Andrew Mitrovica. In it, former CSIS operative John Farrell reveals that CSIS operated widespread opening of the mail of rightwing activists, including Mr. Zundel. Farrell charged that he was twice warned in 1995 not to open packages from B.C. addressed to Zundel. Later that month, a powerful pipebomb sent from a Vancouver address arrived at Ernst Zundel's Toronto house. "Apparently, CSIS knew a bomb was headed for Mr. Zundel and did nothing to warn or protect him or the postal workers who might handle this lethal weapon," says Fromm.

One of the witnesses being brought by Mr. Zundel's defence is [California] lawyer Bruce Leichty. Mr. Justice Blais, in considering Mr. Zundel's application for bail, wanted more information on his U.S. immigration situation. Crown lawyer Donald MacIntosh had alleged that Mr. Zundel had failed to attend U.S. immigration hearings and was, therefore, a poor risk for bail. Mr. Leichty is a U.S. immigration expert and is now in charge of [Ingrid] Zundel's U.S. legal efforts [to free her husband]. He will testify that Mr. Zundel was scrupulous in his compliance with U.S. authorities.

Mr. Leichty FEDEXed ahead a file of legal documents supporting his case to defence team member Barbara Kulaszka. These legal documents have been detained by Canadian Customs and will not be available Monday when they are needed, lawyer Kulaszka was told. This is not the first time Canada's Customs censors have harassed Mr. Zundel's defence team.

Despite requests to respect legal privilege, Paul Fromm's legal papers, including statements from a potential U.S. witness, were searched and temporarily seized by Customs officials at Pearson Airport on June 11.

"The detention of Mr. Leichty's papers leaves the strong suspicion that the Crown will have advance and unfair access to the Defence case," says Mr. Fromm.

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Paul Fromm, CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR FREE EXPRESSION, P.O. Box 332, Rexdale, ON., M9W 5L3 PH: 905-897-722

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Friends of free thought, Ernst Zundel really needs your ongoing help and support.

1. If you live abroad, write to the Canadian Embassy in your country and demand Zundel's release and humane treatment.

2. If you live in southern Ontario and wish to visit, call ahead to Security: 416-675-1806 Ext. 4220. You must be on Zundel's approved list. You can also get directions, when you call.

3. No matter where you live, why not send a card or letter to encourage Ernst Zundel. Write Prisoner Ernst Zundel, c/o Metro West Detention Centre, 111 Disco Road, Box 4950, Rexdale, ON., M9W 1M3. Ernst in overwhelmed by the hundreds of concerned and thoughtful people who have sent him letters and cards. A tip: don't use stick-on return address label or seals. They're ripped off by prison authorities searching for, who knows what.

4. We also need your financial support for Mr. Zundel's defence.

We have a number of delicate colour-pencil sketches by Ernst Zundel done in prison. Each is dated and signed. Each is a nature study. Mr. Zundel has long been a paint and sketch artist. He had returned to his love of art before the U.S. I.N.S picked him up and deported him. . If you send us a cheque for $100 or more, we'll send you one of these collector's items, a thank you sketch by political prisoner Ernst Zundel.

Mail your donation today to CAFE Box 332, Rexdale, ON., M9W 5L3, Canada or e-mail us your VISA number and expiry date. On your cheque or an accompanying piece of paper, note: "For Zundel Defence Fund."

Paul Fromm

Director

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR FREE EXPRESSION

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