Merouane Ghalmi the target of terrorism-linked peace bond

The Crown's attempt to geta 22-year-old Montreal man tosign a terrorism-linked peace bond has been delayed.

Merouane Ghalmi, sporting a beard and closely cropped hair,made a brief appearance Thursday before a Quebec Court judge.

But his case was postponed until next month to allowGhalmi's lawyer more time to review the evidence.

Ghalmiisscheduled to be back in court on March27 to sign the peace bond, which would forcehim to meet certain conditions or go to jail.

He has not been charged with any offence and it is not known why the Mounties are concerned about him because the contents of a sworn affidavit have been sealed.

A summons was issued toGhalmion Feb. 23 ordering him to appear in court Thursday.

The summons reads: "Because of the motives mentioned in the affidavit, (the RCMP investigator) has reasons to believe thatGhalmiwill commit a terrorist offence.''

Federal Crown attorneyLyneDcariesaid the affidavit will not be made public.

"We want him to respect certain conditions ... and at the next date it's set for hearing and we'll see what kind of conditions,"Dcarietold reporters.

NeitherGhalmior his lawyer,MathieuBdard, would speak with reporters as they left the courtroom.

Ghalmi was a competitive mixed martial arts fighteras recently as 2012.

The Conservative governmentintroduced an anti-terrorism bill last month that would make it easier for the RCMP to obtain apeacebond.

Existing law requires a fear that someone "will commit'' a terrorism offence before police can obtain apeacebond a tool that can mean jail unless a suspect abides by strict conditions, for instance that they surrender their passport and regularly report to police.

A new, lower threshold would be reasonable grounds to fear a person "may commit'' a terrorism offence.

Peace bonds have only been used eight times since 2001 for terrorism suspects six of them related to members of the 2006 Toronto 18 plot, and two others.