Human Rights Committee did not consider a similar procedure contrary to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. However, the State party informed the Committee that the law had been amended and that since 22 February 2008, to the extent that the nomination of a “special lawyer” is authorized to defend the individual in his absence and in the absence of his own lawyer, when such information is considered in camera. As to the Committee’s point that it is entitled to freely assess the facts of each case (para. 10.3), the State party referred to jurisprudence in which the Committee found that it would not question the conclusion of national authorities unless there was a manifest error, abuse of process, or grave irregularity, etc. (see cases 282/2005 and 193/2001). In this context, it submits that the delegate’s decision was reviewed in detail by the Court of Federal Appeal, which itself reviewed all the original documentation submitted to support his claims as well as new documents and found that it could not conclude that the delegate’s conclusions were unreasonable. On 21 October 2008, the State party provided a supplementary reply. It denied the author’s allegations that his rights were violated by the Canadian authorities during his removal from Canada. It explained that in such circumstances where an individual being returned poses a great threat to security he/she is returned by a chartered rather than commercial airline. The complainant’s hands and feet were handcuffed, the handcuffs on his hands were connected to a belt attached to his seatbelt and those on his feet were attached to a security strap. He was held in his chair by a belt around his body. These measures are always taken in cases where there is a very high security risk on a chartered flight. These measures did not prevent him from moving his hands and feet to some extent or from eating or drinking. The authorities offered to change the position of his seat on several occasions but he refused. As to food, the complainant was offered special vegetarian meals but other than apple juice he refused to accept anything. The chemical toilet on the plane had not 151

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