The UN’s top human rights official has raised racism concerns over Australia’s policies towards asylum seekers and its treatment of its indigenous Aboriginal population. Long-standing policies of locking up asylum seekers had “cast a shadow over Australia’s human rights record”, and appeared to be completely arbitrary, Navi Pillay, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Wednesday at the end of a six-day visit to the country.
By Luam Kidane and Ryan Hayes| May 21, 2011, rabble.ca
At 8pm on Friday May 13, award-winning undocumented queer artist Alvaro Orozco was arrested by Toronto Police after being ‘randomly ID’d’ on his way to dinner with friends. Now in detention at the Toronto Immigration Holding Centre, he faces imminent deportation to Nicaragua. In this exclusive interview for Rabble.ca, Alvaro Orozco speaks from detention directly to his supporters. Alvaro shares his hope for the future and reflects on his experience as an undocumented artist in Toronto.
A well-travelled British human rights activist and former Guantanamo Bay detainee said he was barred from boarding a direct flight from London to Toronto Friday because of concerns the aircraft could be diverted to the U.S. Moazzam Begg was to speak at a Saturday conference on Islamophobia organized by the Canadian lawyer for Omar Khadr, 24, the Toronto-born Guantanamo prisoner convicted last fall of war crimes.
By Axel Caballero, Brave New Foundation, May 18 2011
Georgia is the latest state to pass an anti-immigrant bill like SB1070, with Governor Nathan Deal expected to sign it tomorrow. Georgia is also home to the largest private prison in the country. Coincidence? Not even close. It’s hardly a secret that private prison corporations like Corrections Corporation of America and The GEO group, along with right-wing lobbying group ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) and a few pocketed state legislators like Russell Pearce in Arizona, have been at it — deliberately promoting and designing laws aimed at incarcerating immigrants and turning the prison system into an incredibly lucrative business.
