OTTAWA - A lawyer for terror suspect Mohamed Harkat says the Algerian's use of a false Saudi passport to enter Canada is something many legitimate refugees do.
Norm Boxall told a Federal Court hearing today that Harkat didn't hide the fact he had the fake document when he arrived from Pakistan.
The government is trying to deport Harkat under a national security certificate, a rarely employed immigration provision.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service alleges Harkat, arrested more than seven years ago, has ties to Islamic extremists.
The former gas-station attendant and pizza delivery man, who lives in Ottawa with his wife, denies involvement with terrorism.
Under questioning today, a CSIS officer said Harkat's use of a false passport was a "contributing factor" in deciding he was an extremist.
