An Edmonton man claims he was held in solitary confinement in a maximum security prison in Ottawa for six weeks and was denied access to his lawyer, medication and basic hygiene.

John Calvin - who uses a pseudonym because he fears for his life - says deportation to the West Bank in Palestine would mean he would be killed for converting to Christianity and for being gay. Hamas, of which is family are members, has threatened the former Muslim with death if he returns. Calvin returned to Edmonton Wednesday evening, a day after being released from the prison.

He was in Ottawa in June for an interview with a magazine and was visiting a First Nations reserve when he got too close to a Canadian Border Services Agency point of entry and was arrested.

Calvin claims he was not allowed to shave or shower for days, nor was he allowed to brush his teeth. Friends could not reach Calvin on June 14, and he says he was arrested on June 15. According to Calvin, the CBSA said he was a danger to the public and a flight risk. While at the maximum security facility, he claims he was denied his seizure medication.

He also said he was not allowed to speak to his lawyer for 10 days.

"It was a disgrace," he said.

So far, he has spent more than $60,000, paid in part through fundraisers. Calvin's deportation is scheduled for Nov. 4, although the process has been expedited, he said.

After being greeted by friends at the airport, Calvin said Edmonton is home and he only felt safe seeing Alberta again.

Chris Healy, a spokesman for the CBSA, sent a statement to the Edmonton Sun.

"What I can tell you is the Privacy Act provides very strict parameters concerning what the CBSA may and may not say about a particular case and/or person," the statement reads.

"While each case is assessed on its unique merits, we are bound by this legislation, and can only share what is in the public domain."

Catherine.griwkowsky@sunmedia.ca

@SunGriwkowskyC