The lawyer for a Canadian man suspected of supporting a terrorist group says his client will fight extradition to the United States.
"I think any Canadian would want to stay in Canada to answer to charges," Bob Aloneissi said outside court.
Sayfildin Tahir Sharif, 38, was arrested by the RCMP in Edmonton on Wednesday at the request of the FBI.
Mr. Sharif, who is married and has children, appeared in court briefly on Thursday accompanied by three sheriffs. The matter was put over to Jan. 27.
Mr. Aloneissi said the extradition process could take months.
"There will be a period of about 60 days and then an extradition hearing will be set, probably within the next six months or so," he said.
"And then the extradition judge will decide if he should be extradited. And then the [federal justice]minister will decide whether to give the consent for extradition as well."
Mr. Sharif is charged in the United States with supporting a multinational terrorist network that took part in a suicide bombing which killed five soldiers in Iraq. He faces a life sentence if convicted.
The bombing in April 2009 near a forward operating base in Mosul also injured several other soldiers.
The U.S. Department of Justice says Mr. Sharif was charged based on evidence gathered in Canadian court-authorized wiretaps and search warrants.
Mr. Aloneissi said he met Mr. Sharif for the first time early Thursday.
"We are all trying to understand the charges against him. It will take some time I think for him to understand them as well," he said.
"They are probably some of the most serious charges that an individual can face."
The FBI says the terrorist group is also believed to be responsible for another suicide bombing that killed seven Iraqis on March 31, 2009, at a police station.