Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) Commends the Canadian Justice System for Deporting Accused Terrorist Hassan Diab to France

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 17, 2014) - Thirty-four years after the terrorist bombing of the Copernic Synagogue in Paris killed four people and injured dozens, the main suspect in the murders has finally been deported - eight years after the original request from France. First arrested by the RCMP in 2008, former Carleton University professor Hassan Diab was extradited to France on Friday after the Supreme Court of Canada cleared the way for his deportation. He is now facing multiple charges in France, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and destruction of property with an explosive or incendiary substance

"If found guilty by French courts, families and friends who still mourn those who were so senselessly slaughtered by the bomb attack may finally see a measure of justice," noted FSWC President & CEO Avi Benlolo. "For my colleague in Paris, Shimon Samuels, Diab's extradition holds particular significance, as his friend was killed by the bomb moments after they parted ways shortly before the blast when she turned onto Rue Copernic while he walked the other way."

FSWC commends the Canadian justice system for its diligent efforts to comply with French requests for Diab's extradition. Diab now has the opportunity to defend himself against these charges in a French court of law; FSWC looks forward to the outcome of his trial.

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Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is a leading non-profit human rights organization directly representing over 30,000 Canadian members. FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and education. Through its affiliation with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the organization has won two Academy Awards, has two Museums of Tolerances (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is represented at the United Nations and the OSCE. FSWC has a diverse number of programs, including Freedom Day, Speakers Idol and the Tour4Humanity.