In several conversations with the [Ottawa] Citizen since his nephew's arrest, Ahmad Shehab, a Toronto-based Islamic cleric and special adviser to the United Nations, has expressed shock. "He led an ordinary, normal life. He loved people and he loved animals. I pray for his innocence," Mr. Shehab told the Citizen last night. "He's just a kid. Nobody would let him know any secrets. He is the last person on earth that would be involved with terrorism," Mr. Shehab said.
Mr. al-Marabh was released from a Niagara Falls jail in July on a $10,000 bond posted by Mr. Shehab. A senior immigration officer reported that Mr. al-Marabh posed a security risk because of an assault conviction in Boston a year earlier -- he was found guilty of stabbing an acquaintance in the leg.---- "Canada released 'key' al-Qaeda operative: Freed on bail in July, man held in Chicago is accused of having ties to suicide pilots," by Gary Dimmock, The Ottawa Citizen, 2001.10.17- via http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/~ab133/Archives/Digests/v04n200-299/v04-n202.txt
From Wikipedia [it checks out in other sources as well]:
Ahmad Shehab is the Ontario Chancellor for the International Association of Educators for World Peace, and a candidate for Mayor of Toronto, Canada, in the 2003 municipal election
Some achievements noted on his election campaign web site are:
Special advisor to the United Nations envoy
Journalist with the UN News
Volunteer for famine relief work in the Horn of Africa
Member of the Canadian Arab Press Council
Member of the Canadian Arab Media Federation
Community leader and Imam of Sheikh Deedat Centre
Marriage Counselor at the Islamic Information and Da'wah Centre
Public speaker in many community and fundraising events
President of Um-ul-Qurra Islamic School
President of a graphics and printing corporation
Built and developed many community centres and mosques
across Canada
Delivers Friday sermons across the GTA
Black Belt Two Degree Taekwondo