Despite his exoneration by the Canadian government, the Bush administration is keeping Maher Arar on a terrorist watch list despite requests from the Canadian government to remove him. Arar was seized by U.S. officials during a stopover flight in New York and sent to Syria where he was repeatedly tortured over the course of nearly a year. Meanwhile, “Arrivals”, a play here in New York is putting Maher Arar’s ordeal on the stage. “Arrivals” actor Michael Gabriel Goodfriend joins us in the firehouse studio. We’re also joined by ACLU staff attorney Steven Watt for the latest on Arar’s case. [includes rush transcript]

Democrats are renewing a push to ban the US government from shipping people to countries that engage in torture. Congressmember Ed Markey of Massachusetts, supported by 44 other Democrats, re-introduced a bill this week to halt the practice known as “extraordinary rendition.” Lawmakers singled out the “gross violation” of Maher Arar’s rights in re-introducing the bill.

Arar is the Canadian citizen who was seized by U.S. officials during a stopover flight in New York in 2002. He was secretly sent to Syria where he was held for almost a year in a grave-like cell. He was repeatedly tortured. He was released without ever being charged with a crime. Last year, the Canadian government determined Maher Arar was innocent. They issued an an apology and agreed to pay him nine million dollars. The Bush administration has never apologized and is keeping Arar on a terrorist watch list despite requests from the Canadian government to remove him.

Meanwhile, a new play here in New York puts Maher Arar’s ordeal on the stage. It’s called “Arrivals” and it centers around a Syrian-born Canadian citizen called Mohammed El Rafi. That part is played by actor Michael Gabriel Goodfriend. He also joins us in the firehouse studio.

• Steven Watt. Senior staff attorney with the newly formed Human Rights Working Group of the American Civil Liberties Union. He is the lead counsel in the Khaled El-Masri lawsuit challenging the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program.
• Michael Gabriel Goodfriend. Plays Mohammed El Rafi in the play “Arrivals.” He also produces radio show “Leftjab” on XM Satellite Radio.