Ahmad Ghany

Born in 1984 in Mississauga, Ontario, Ahmad Mustafa Ghany is a 2004 graduate of McMaster University's health sciences program, and was one of 17 people initially arrested in the 2006 Toronto terrorism arrests. Two years later, all charges were dropped against a number of the alleged terrorists including Ghany.

Ghany is the son of urologist Farouk Abdul Ghany, who moved to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. His family moved briefly to Saudi Arabia a year after Ghany's birth and the death of his father's son from a previous marriage, while his parents taught at King Saud University. They returned to Canada following the Gulf War. Ghany, who had been studying through online Calvert School courses, was enrolled in Sawmill Valley Junior and Erindale High School.

While his father is a prominent member of the Taric Islamic Centre in North York, Ghany typically prayed at the ISNA Mosque, or at the Ar-Rahman Qu’ran Centre when visiting his wife Rana Farooq, who still lived with her family. It was the latter location which police later alleged was the meeting-place of several conspirators. Ghany and Farooq were married in a small ceremony at her house on April 12, and Imam Aly Hindy warned Ghany's parents that their son had had seemed to attract the attention of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), and that his own son would no longer be allowed to visit their house. [Buist, Steve & Laura Thompson. Hamilton Spectator, "Mac student's dad was warned about son under surveillance", June 6 2006]

Arrest

On June 2 2006, the 21-year old Ghany was driving his Lexus along the Gardiner Expressway with his wife Rana Farooq, when police vehicles surrounded him and forced the car to the side of the road, where they arrested, handcuffed and searched Ghany. Taking Ghany and impounding the car, they left the 17-year-old Farooq crying on the side of the road.Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday, [http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime/0,39003.html Canada's TT terror suspect] , June 11 2006]

Friends and family expressed disbelief at Ghany's arrest, stating that he was "the most quiet guy ever", and "kind of a nerd". Some alleged that it was simply because his wife's brother-in-law was Zakaria Amara, an alleged ringleader seized during the arrests. Similarly, one of the young offenders arrested in the case also attended McMaster's health program and was cited as a friend of Ghany.Nelson, Marissa. Hamilton Spectator, "2nd Mac student one of 17 charged", June 23, 2006]

Charges, bail and release

Represented by Rocco Galati, Ghany was held at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex. He was charged under the Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act with participating in a terrorist group, and training for terrorist purposes.Teotonio, Isabel. Toronto Star, [http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/414672 Four have terror charges stayed] , April 15 2008] The charges stemmed from the fact he attended a winter camp near Washago that prosecutors have alleged was planned as an opportunity to hone their terrorist skills. Ghany was only at the camp for three days, helping to set up the site, playing paintball and leaving early.

Six weeks after the arrests, Ghany became the second suspect to be granted bail as he was released by Justice Hilda Weiss on a $140,000 pledge on July 20 on the condition that he could not leave his parents' house unaccompanied unless going to school, work or to see his lawyer. He had to report to police weekly, and could not communicate with the other suspects in the case.CBC, [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/07/20/suspect-released.html 2nd suspect in terrorist-related activities gets bail] , July 20, 2006]

The resulting media frenzy saw references to a Quran at his trial causing him to smile, and his wife's online comments as "Al-Mujahidah" on a forum set up by her sister analysed. [El Akkad, Omar & Greg McArthur. Globe and Mail, "Hateful chatter behind the veil", June 29 2006]

On April 15 2008, nearly two years after the arrests, all charges were dropped against Ghany, Qayyum Abdul Jamal, Ibrahim Aboud and Yasim Mohamed. [CTV, [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080415/terror_charges_stayed_080415?s_name=&no_ads= Charges stayed against four in T.O. terror case] , April 15 2008]

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