Maher Arar, who also holds a Syrian passport, was detained in October 2002 as he changed planes at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. U.S. agents deported him to Syria, prompting a formal protest by Ottawa to Washington. He had been accused by Damascus of belonging to a "terrorist organization," which Canadian authorities believed to be the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood. He had not visited Syria since immigrating to Canada as a 17-year-old in 1988. "I am so excited to see my family again. My kids grew up in the past year," Arar told a news conference at Montreal's Dorval Airport, referring to his six-year-old daughter Baraa and his 19-month-old son Houd. Arar was freed from a Syrian jail on Sunday in an unexpected move. Ottawa has said it believed its diplomatic pressure on Syria led to the release of Arar, who was due to go on trial shortly charged with links to terrorism. "I would like to thank my fellow Canadians who contributed and helped me get back home," he said, looking tired. "It is just the beginning of justice for my husband," his wife, Monia, told reporters. Arar declined to answer a question about allegations of torture in Damascus. Human rights groups said on Monday Arar had not yet spoken about his jail conditions and the reasons for his deportation to Syria by U.S. agents. "We will be calling for a full public inquiry," said Riad Saloojee, Canadian executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. Arar's release is expected to relieve some of the political pressure on Ottawa, under fire from opposition legislators who say it does not do enough to protect Canadian citizens abroad. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Maher Arar talks to the media following his arrival back into Canada at Dorval airport in Montreal, October 6, 2003. (Photo by Shaun Best)