Posted by admin on Dec 16th, 2004
Globe and Mail, 16 December 2004
Ingrid Peritz
MONTREAL — Immigration Minister Judy Sgro has given a reprieve to five people who had been sheltered for prolonged stays in two churches, a move seen as an attempt to defuse the thorny issue of church sanctuary. The Ayele family in Montreal and Samsu Mia in Ottawa have both been holed up since the summer of 2003, refusing to leave their sanctuaries for fear of being deported. Both had the opportunity this week to breathe fresh air and walk outdoors freely for the first time.
» click here to continue reading
Posted by admin on Nov 3rd, 2004
Toronto Star, 3 November 2004
Bruce Campion-Smith
OTTAWA-Immigration Minister Judy Sgro is in hot water after offering Canada’s church leaders a secret deal to review the cases of refugee claimants who have sought sanctuary in their buildings. While publicly shooting down a long-promised refugee appeal process, Sgro quietly tried to make a side deal with religious leaders to enact a special process to give these claimants another shot at staying in Canada.
But Sgro said she would review no more than 12 such cases a year, church officials said.
Opposition MPs yesterday denounced the proposal as “morally offensive” and accused Sgro of holding the churches “hostage.” Church leaders rejected Sgro’s idea, saying she was trying to make them do the work of the immigration department.
» click here to continue reading
Posted by admin on Apr 21st, 2004
VIOLATIONS OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS BY THE AUTHORITIES IN THE CHERFI CASE
Wednesday 21st April 2004.
1. In the deportation risk assessment that was performed, the federal authorities did not take into account the fact that, for two years, Mohamed was a spokesperson for the Action Committee for Non-Status Algerians and that, as a spokesperson for the Committee, he denounced the Algerian government on many different occasions.
» click here to continue reading
Posted by admin on Apr 4th, 2004
SECOND NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH MOHAMED CHERFI
We have just learned that Citizenship and Immigration Minister Judy Sgro will be in Vancouver for a signing ceremony. What agreement is being signed is unclear, but we are clear that we will be present to to denounce Canada’s war on immigrants, refugees and non-status peoples, and its role in an apartheid system that systematically denies decent living conditions and basic rights.
GATHER APRIL 5Â 10:30 AM, at Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, 580 West Hastings Street
» click here to continue reading
Posted by admin on Mar 25th, 2004
JOING NO ONE IS ILLEGAL TO DEMAD THE RETURN ON MOHAMED CHERFI!
Friday, March 26 2004 at 2:30pm
CIC (300 West Georgia)
Mohamed Cherfi, a prominent and outspoken member of the Action Committee of Algerian refugees, was grabbed out a church sanctuary and deported to the US. This is the first time this has ever happened and send a clear message to all refugees fighting for their rights that they will be targeted and deported to. We must fight back!
