Our Friendly Local Terrorist

In 1994 the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) summoned Suleyman Goven for a security interview. Goven was a Convention Refugee, an Alevi Kurd who had fled Turkey for Toronto three years earlier. His landed immigrant application was still pending. During an eight-hour ordeal with the government agency, Goven was accused of being a terrorist and then propositioned: you work for us as a spy and you'll get your papers; otherwise - there are no guarantees.

By chance Mary Jo Leddy was with Goven that day and joined his fourteen-year struggle: surveillance, uncertainty, betrayal, judicial hearings, and finally a ruling.