No double standard, say Sikh supporters of failed refugee claimant. David Carrigg
The Province. Monday, January 28, 2008

Supporters of failed refugee claimant Laibar Singh are mounting a campaign to ensure Sikh temples continue to offer the same sanctuary a church provides. “Violating the sanctuary of a gurudwara [temple] while the sanctuary of churches has largely been respected will set a dangerous double standard,” Cynthia Wright, of York University’s school of women’s studies in Toronto, said in a statement. Singh, who has twice avoided deportation as a result of protests by his supporters, is living in Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh temple in the belief the government will not enter and remove him.

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 (important ways to support and UPCOMING EVENTS/ACTIONS, including cross-country are included below. Also see below for growing list of supporters.)

As people have likely heard by now, Mr. Laibar Singh was not deported on yesterday December 9th at 4:30 am and remains in sanctuary in Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey. The last minute notice of the deportation and the removal time of 4:30 am was a deliberate and under-handed attempt to thwart public outcry and support. At 4:00 am, approximately 300 supporters gathered to protest and bear witness to CBSA’s enforcement of a deportation in violation of sanctuary. In light of a major backlash for violating sanctuary and in the presence of hundreds of supporters, CBSA backed off from the deportation.

The Surrey Guru Nanak Gurudwara has made clear to CBSA that Laibar Singh is in sanctuary in their premises. In having decided to enter temple premises yesterday or any date in the future, CBSA is breaching a historic moral tradition of sanctuary. Sanctuary is an act of courage that faith communities take to protect the lives of those facing deportation in light of unjust government decisions.

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Nov, 10 2007, VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) – An Iranian man fighting deportation is now free. A tearful Ali Reza Monemi was surrounded by family and friends when he was told his fifth appeal to stay in Canada had been granted by immigration authorities. The 31-year old says Reverend Dan Meakes was his saviour 18 months ago when he gave him asylum at North Vancouver’s St. John the Evangelist Church, “I owe my life to him, first of all. He’s the one who was positive since I walked in to his church. He gave me hope, gave me strength to stay and I owe him my life. I just can’t say…the words can’t describe what he did for me.”

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Wednesday, October 3, 2007, CBC News

An Ethiopian man who has been hiding in an Ottawa church for more than a year and a half after his refugee claim was rejected can stay in Canada, the government has decided. Moti Nano strolled beside a busy Ottawa highway Tuesday enjoying his new liberty, days after Citizenship and Immigration Canada revoked the order to deport him to his home country, where he said he would be tortured or killed.

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Abbottsford police and Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers have arrested Mr. Laiber Singh, a paralyzed Punjabi refugee claimant who has been in sanctuary since July 7 at Abbortsford Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Gurudwara.

YOUR URGENT SUPPORT IS NEEDED AT THIS DETENTION REVIEW !!!
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15 AT 10:30 AM – 1 PM. 300 WEST GEORGIA

The arrest was made late last night at MSA Hospital in Abbotsford, where Mr. Singh has been since Thursday August 9 on the advice of his physician. On Monday night at approximately 10 pm, close to 20-30 uniformed officers, border services agents, and undercover officers arrived at the hospital to arrest Mr. Singh. Temple President Swaran Singh Gill, who was with Mr. Singh at the time, was not allowed to make any phone calls, including to legal counsel, and was led to believe that he too would face arrest.

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