Hundreds rally in solidarity with Palestinian refugees

Ottawa IMC, 29.11.2004 22:38

Monday. Activists rallied at the Supreme Court building in Ottawa, denouncing the government of Canada’s racist policies on the deportation of refugee claimants.

Protestors march through the streets of downtown Ottawa, Monday.

Monday, November 29.

Today at the Supreme Court building in Ottawa, activists and concerned citizens from numerous organizations rallied and chanted, denouncing the government of Canada’s racist policies on the treatment of refugees and deportation. Many of those in the crowd were Palestinian students, newly landed immigrants, and refugees themselves. Many others in the were protesters and activists from Montreal and Toronto, here in Ottawa to participate in the larger demonstrations planned for President Bush’s arrival on Tuesday.

Among the speakers was Abdel Takriti. “As we are standing here today the very notion of refuge is under threat,” he said, speaking about the situation facing Ahmad Nafaa – a Palestinian man now being detained by immigration officials after being arrested in Montreal last week. Nafaa was forced underground after his claim for refugee status was denied. Nafaa is facing deportation to the U.S. on November 30 and would most likely be held in a US federal penitentiary before being sent back to a refugee camp in the West Bank.

Sophie Harkat called on the crowd to pressure the government into ending its use of an immigration 'security certificate' which allows immigration officials, in tangent with Canada's RCMP federal police, to arrest people without charges, detain them indefinitely, and hold trials only in secret. Sofie Harkat is the wife of Mohammad Harkat, who has been detained for almost two years without an fair, open trial. Neither he, his family nor their lawyer know what the charges or evidence are against him.

After the opening speeches concluded, the crowd rallied behind a huge banner clearly spelling out the purpose of the protest. “Les Camp De Refuges Ne Sont Pas Un Foyer” refugee camps are no one’s home. Police blocked traffic as the protesters marched through the streets of downtown Ottawa to the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. Throughout the march pedestrians and citizens looked on as the group chanted slogans in English and French. “no borders, no nations, stop deportations” and “solidarite, avec, avec, avec les refugées.”

The group also seized the opportunity to begin the vocal attack on President Bush himself chanting, “ Bush out of Baghdad, Bush out of Ottawa”.

Once at the offices of the Ministry, the crowd rallied and listened to more speeches attacking the policies of the US, Israeli and Canadian governments on a number of issues. Some of the strongest themes expressed by the speakers and crowd were the negative effects on many Palestinians caused by the policies of Israel and the US as well as Canada’s complicity with them.

“These Palestinian refugees have left Palestine or fled the Palestinian refugee camps due to the policies of the US government and the Israeli government … they have fled the consequences of continued US support to illegal and deadly military occupation… and that Canada is also complicit in," said one speaker.

Protesters demanded an end to the deportation of refugees in Canada seeking landed immigrant status. “Canada can make a moratorium on deporting Palestinian refugees and I think that is what should happen,“ said Ahmad Mustafa, a Palestinian refugee who has been living in Montreal for three years. “Canada has a Moratorium on other countries like the Congo and Iraq," he said.

The protesters also called on the Canadian government to reform the justice system so that immigrants can appeal their refugee claims, if they've been denied. Currently in Canada, once a request has been denied there is no appeal process available, forcing many back to squalid conditions in refugee camps in their countries of origin.

The protest today was seen by many as an opening event for the larger protests on the November 30. The event was organized by the group, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights.

More info:  http://www.sphr.org

Homepage:: http://ottawa.indymedia.org

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refugee camps are NOT "home" 19.08.2007 - 20:54 There is no way to make a "quick comment" on the article regarding palestinian refugees seeking landed immigrant status. I 100% agree that refugee camps anywhere in the world are not & should not be "home". I grew up in Montreal dob 1942 & my children 30 & 32 went to English schools where the student pop. came from all over & I worked for 12 years in a small hospital 124 beds with people from Iran, the Phillipines, greece, Ireland, Jamaica, Isreal etc. I loved my job. Never once did any one of these people, many who became close friends ever insisted that I cover my windows, wear their head ddresses, not serve ham with my meals, want to wear knives to sschool or scream people to prayer several times a day. Canadian people are very tolerant but please don't force them to change the way we have lived for 400 years. Immigrants have helped us build this beautiful country over the centuries. The English & the French w ould not have been able to do this by themselves but the Chinese, Germans, Poles, Swedes etc. never forcsed us to live their way. In their homes, they do what they want but at school & in the work place, they are Canadians. Mr. Bust had no right to force his way of living on the Irakis & he's coming to Montebello Aug.20 for support & for us to pat him on the back - well I for one will not & morally cannot support him or steven Harper or Mr. Calderon. Thank you for letting me ramble, XXX Sandra Marsh> e-mail:: marshsandra@sympatico.ca