The case of Maher Arar has been taken up by an American human rights group. The Center for Constitutional Rights wants the U.S. government to investigate why the Canadian was deported to Syria, where he was jailed and tortured for 10 months.

Arar was detained as a suspected terrorist in New York in September 2002 and questioned. Though he was never charged, he was suddenly deported to Syria, his birth country. There, he says he was beaten, kept in a tiny cell, and forced to sign a false confession. He was released without explanation last month.

Recent media reports have suggested Arar's story is an example of the U.S. practice known as "extraordinary rendition." It involves turning over low-level, suspected terrorists to foreign intelligence services, some of which are known to torture prisoners.

Critics say it amounts to the subcontracting of torture.

The Center for Constitutional Rights' legal director John Fogel says if the U.S. knew Arar would be tortured, those officials responsible could be guilty of aiding and abetting torture.

The American non-profit legal group is demanding the U.S. Congress investigate the CIA's role in the arrest. It has also sent letters to members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives urging hearings into Arar's case.

Finally, the group is asking American Attorney General John Ashcroft for a criminal probe into whether U.S. officials were complicit in Arar's torture.

Steven Watt, a fellow of the Center, says the facts of Arar's treatment are "quite extraordinary."

"There appears to have been a complete disregard for the law and for Mr. Arar, and there must be some accounting for his treatment by U.S. government officials," Watt said last week.

Arar, who says his life and career have been "destroyed" by the experience, has also called for a public inquiry into his case here in Canada. His lawyer accuses the RCMP and CSIS of communication with U.S. authorities that led to the deportation.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien has rejected the call, but has said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will work to find out whether Canadian intelligence officials furnished information that led to Arar's deportation. Chretien said Powell would pass along any relevant information to Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham.

The RCMP's civilian Public Complaints Commission says it will conduct its own investigation to find out whether any Mounties may have been involved.

As well, Solicitor-General Wayne Easter, who is in charge of law enforcement, said he had asked officials to investigate whether his department had leaked information on Arar to Washington.