STOP THE DEPORTATION OF MOURAD – RALLY @ CIC OFFICES

JUNE 7 AT NOON

WRITE/ FAX/ EMAIL

Judy Sgro, P.C., M.P.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
Fax: 613-947-8319, Tel: 613-992-7774
E-mail: Minister@cic.gc.ca

Anne McLellan, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
c/o Solicitor General of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
Fax: 613-990-9077, Tel: 613-991-2924
E-mail: McClellan.A@parl.gc.ca

Re: DEPORTATION OF ALGERIAN MAN MARRIED TO CANADIAN CITIZEN

I would like to draw your particular attention to the case of Mr Mourad Kinneche who is facing deportation on June 8. Mourad is an Algerian man who faces real threats of persecution if deported. Mourad sought political refuge in Canada as a conscientious objector and political dissenter speaking out against the civil war and terrorism that has resulted in over 300,000 deaths and close to one million disappearances in the past decade. He managed to flee in the hopes of establishing a new and secure life in Canada.

He was refused as a refugee on unfair grounds, with the judge claiming that he faces no danger if deported to Algeria. A very violent civil conflict has torn Algeria apart for about ten years. The toll the war has taken is disastrous: 150, 000 dead, 12, 000 disappeared, a million displaced and a disturbing situation with regard to the respect of human rights. A moratorium instated on March 3rd, 1997 by the Canadian government prohibited deporting people to Algeria. However on April 4th, 2002, the Prime Minister of Canada left on an official trip to Algeria and on the same day, the Minister of Immigration, Denis Coderre, announced the lifting of the moratorium on removals to Algeria. The Minister argued that the situation in Algeria no longer constituted a danger to the safety of people being deported. The Canadian branch of Amnesty International called the lifting of the moratorium “premature” and “political”. The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs recommended that Canadian citizens put off all travel to Algeria because of the violence raging there.

Mourad and his wife Donelle have a sponsorship application in process and Mourad is dedicated and hard-working, having been employed at several jobs in Vancouver. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has the power to intervene in his case and grant him the ability to remain in Canada while his sponsorship is being processed. If deported, he will be in an extremely dangerous situation and Donelle fears that she may never be united with him again.

I urge you to please consider the mounting support for Mourad from community groups, student groups, womens groups, and members of political parties. I urge you to intervene in the case of Mourad on humanitarian and compassionate grounds to allow Mouard the right to remain in Canada with his wife and be granted regularized status immediately

Undersigned,