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Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
After his arrest, Arar was expelled by the United States to Syria, where he was detained and tortured for a year.
But he was later cleared of any suspicion by the Canadian authorities, and in January 2007 won an apology from Prime Minister Stephen Harper and 10 million dollars in compensation from the Canadian government.
After former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice admitted to Congress his case had not been well handled, Arar sought to win a similar apology from the US government. But his lawsuit was denied in the first court and then later by a New York appeals court.
"Today's decision eliminates my last bit of hope in the judicial system of the United States," Arar said in a statement.
"When it comes to 'national security' matters the judicial system has willingly abandoned its sacred role of ensuring that no one is above the law," he alleged.
"My case and other cases brought by human beings who were tortured have been thrown out by US courts based on dubious government claims. Unless the American people stand up for justice they will soon see their hard-won civil liberties taken away from them as well."
The refusal by the Supreme Court to take up the case means Arar's last legal avenue is closed in a decision that could impact on any similar cases.
The system of secret renditions, under which terror suspects were sent to third countries for tough interrogations outside the US legal system, was developed under the former administration of president George W. Bush.
The practice was halted by the current administration of President Barack Obama.
Arar's lawyer David Cole said "the courts have regrettably refused to right the egregious wrong done to Maher Arar.
"But the courts have never questioned that a wrong was done. They have simply said that it is up to the political branches to fashion a remedy.
"We are deeply disappointed that the courts have shirked their responsibility," Cole stressed.
Influential senator Patrick Leahy meanwhile said he was disappointed, noting that "the United States' secret rendition of Maher Arar to Syria, where he was tortured for nearly a year, remains a stain on this nation’s legacy as a human rights leader around the world."
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But he was later cleared of any suspicion by the Canadian authorities, and in January 2007 won an apology from Prime Minister Stephen Harper and 10 million dollars in compensation from the Canadian government.
After former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice admitted to Congress his case had not been well handled, Arar sought to win a similar apology from the US government. But his lawsuit was denied in the first court and then later by a New York appeals court.
"Today's decision eliminates my last bit of hope in the judicial system of the United States," Arar said in a statement.
"When it comes to 'national security' matters the judicial system has willingly abandoned its sacred role of ensuring that no one is above the law," he alleged.
"My case and other cases brought by human beings who were tortured have been thrown out by US courts based on dubious government claims. Unless the American people stand up for justice they will soon see their hard-won civil liberties taken away from them as well."
The refusal by the Supreme Court to take up the case means Arar's last legal avenue is closed in a decision that could impact on any similar cases.
The system of secret renditions, under which terror suspects were sent to third countries for tough interrogations outside the US legal system, was developed under the former administration of president George W. Bush.
The practice was halted by the current administration of President Barack Obama.
Arar's lawyer David Cole said "the courts have regrettably refused to right the egregious wrong done to Maher Arar.
"But the courts have never questioned that a wrong was done. They have simply said that it is up to the political branches to fashion a remedy.
"We are deeply disappointed that the courts have shirked their responsibility," Cole stressed.
Influential senator Patrick Leahy meanwhile said he was disappointed, noting that "the United States' secret rendition of Maher Arar to Syria, where he was tortured for nearly a year, remains a stain on this nation’s legacy as a human rights leader around the world."
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