Abousfian Abdelrazik

Abdelrazik (2K) Abdelrazik2 (3K)

Abousfian Abdelrazik is a Canadian citizen that went to Sudan to visit his ailing mother. For reasons that have never been revealed, he was placed on the '1267' no-fly list. Therein begins his tale.

After 6 long years, the last two living in the lobby/courtyard of the Canadian embassy in Sudan, he managed to obtain permission to return home. Actually it was a Federal Court of Canada order compelling our disgraceful Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, to issue a passport (and an escort), to a Canadian citizen enabling his return home, which was according to certain charter rights that Canadian citizens are supposed to have.

So Abou made it home; but the odessy is not over yet. He is still on the 1267 list, and being on this list means that he can have no employment, no bank account, and basically no rights.

Diogenes's picture

Is Canada a Racist Nation?

lawrenceCannon (5K)

Please note I'm not asking the question "Is Canada a nation of racists?". If I thought the majority of Canadians had some harsh, prejudicial and ignorant view on a particular race, religion or culture, that might be a fair question. But that isn't the case at all. Canadians are pretty decent, considerate people. They have earned a good reputation in most of the world and it serves them well.

But the politics of a nation, the relationships it fosters with the global community, and the reputation it has earned are more fluid and subject to winds of change. So in asking the question "Is Canada a Racist Nation", it is within a context of of current political events.

Diogenes's picture

Abou Is Coming Home!

robNicholson (2K) Abdelrazik2 (3K)

This week Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced that the government will comply with a Federal Court order and issue Abousfian Abdelrazik an emergency passport home.

Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of this ordeal and the despicable behavior of this government will be remembered the next time there is an election. But who to vote for? There are few politicians now that inspire confidence and trust.

Diogenes's picture

Dear Abou: we changed our minds

robNicholson

Last Thursday Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced in the House of Commons that …the government will comply with the court order with respect to issuing an emergency passport to Abousfian Abdelrazik. The court order he refers to was a June 4 ruling by Federal Court of Canada Justice Zinn.

A website called PeoplesCommission.org provides a wealth of information on the Abdelrazik case, including Justice Zinn's decision. I discovered this site on the Rabble.ca website, which has become a favorite of mine for news that doesn't make the news.

Diogenes's picture

I am not making this up!

Harper

Both MLW and some good friends thought this picture was the result of some clever Photoshop editing.

In truth, I'm not that skilled; this picture is quite real. It appears on a CTV website story from March 26, 2009.

This date also coincides with our government banning British MP George Galloway from entering Canada to speak to several anti-war groups in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

The date also marks when Canada was the only member of the United Nation Human Rights Council to support Israel's illegal expansion of settlements in the West Bank.

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