Pacific Views

Maher Arar's wife to run for office in Canada.

CBC News is reporting that Monia Mazigh will be an NDP candidate in the next Canadian federal election. Mazigh is married to Maher Arar, the Canadian who was deported from the US to Syria for alleged ties to al-Qaeda. Mazigh came to public notice for running a year-long campaign to get her husband out of a Syrian prison, and then to get the Canadian government to investigate why he'd wound up in Syria to begin with. Mazigh has a doctorate in financial economics, but has no political experience.

It's been rumored for some time that Mazigh was considering a run for office:

Last month, [NDP leader Jack] Layton cancelled a planned news conference to announce Mazigh's candidacy because she had not decided if she would run.

[Former NDP leader Alexa] McDonough said at the time that Mazigh would be a welcome addition to the party.

"She's shown herself to be of incredible leadership quality, she's been an incredible advocate for human rights and civil liberties and, yes, I absolutely was proud to approach her to ask if she might give this consideration."

More: The Globe & Mail has more details:

Ms. Mazigh said she had been offered an Ottawa riding but would not go beyond that. She, her husband and two children live in the Ottawa suburb of Nepean. Her member of Parliament is Marlene Catterall, a Liberal who worked hard to win Mr. Arar's release.

Even though she has no political experience, Ms. Mazigh would be a marquee candidate for any political party. Her battle for her husband's freedom won her widespread sympathy and admiration.

Her husband's ordeal would influence her work if she were elected, Ms. Mazigh said. But she added her interests range beyond the Middle East or prisoners' rights.

Ms. Mazigh has a doctorate in finance and would be interested in pursuing economic issues, particularly as they pertain to families.

"I am still at the decision stage but I would like to participate in the democratic process and make things happen," she said at the time.

Note: The NDP (New Democratic Party) is the furthest left of Canada's three major national parties.