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ABOUSFIAN ABDELRAZIK: BRING HIM HOME

*Update and Call for Further Action (Last Week)*

Abousfian Abdelrazik – like Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati, Muayyed Nureddin and Maher Arar, other victims of what seems to be a Canadian programme of outsourcing torture – was, according to documents released by  DFAIT, jailed on the recommendation of CSIS while on a visit to Sudan. In  prison, he was beaten and tortured. In this context, he was interrogated by  CSIS officials.

Eventually released and cleared of all suspicion by Sudan, as well as the  RCMP and CSIS, his many attempts to return home to Montreal have been  blocked rather than aided by Canadian officials. In December 2008, for  example, the government stated in a letter to Mr. Abdelrazik’s lawyer that  he must  present a fully-paid-for plane ticket before Passport Canada would agree to  issue an emergency passport. (Mr. Abdelrazik’s passport expired while he was  in prison in Sudan.) At the same time, the government took the position that  anyone who paid for his ticket could be charged under section 3 of the Al Qaida and Taliban Regulations (which says no Canadian shall “provide or  collect by any means, directly or indirectly, funds with the intention that  the funds be used” by a person on the UN list).

In March 2009, over one hundred people joined together to buy a plane ticket  home for Abousfian Abdelrazik, despite the risk of being charged. There are  now around 170 people from all parts of Canada and all walks of life who  have contributed to the ticket fund. The full list of contributors can be  seen at www.peoplescommission.org/abdelrazik.php.

Video from the press conference in which the purchase of the ticket was  announced is now online:
* Part one: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x_XWOBs8Ac
* Part two: www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4FD0KsKoR4

The flight leaves Khartoum on April 3rd. Mr. Abdelrazik’s lawyers have asked  the government to confirm, by Friday, 27 March, that all necessary steps  have been taken to ensure that he is able to get on his plane safely on 3  April. This is the final week to try to convince officials to follow through  with this request.

To date, the government has not responded. However, CSIS has tried to distance itself from the affair publicly; a clear sign that the pressure is  being felt. (Read coverage of CSIS statement in the media section of www.peoplescommission.org/abdelrazik.php.)

ACTION REQUEST

Please take the following actions:

1- Sometime this week, before Friday, 27 March, please CALL the office of  Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Express your hope that the  government will issue a travel document and take all other steps necessary  to ensure that Mr. Abdelrazik is able to get on his plane on 3 April.

Lawrence Cannon
Telephone: (613) 992-5516
Fax: (613) 992-6802
EMail: CannoL@parl.gc.ca

2 – Approach organizations you are involved in to ENDORSE the public campaign to bring Abousfian Abdelrazik back home. (See list of groups who  have already endorsed below).

3 – Please write a brief SOLIDARITY NOTE to Mr. Abdelrazik, care of projectflyhome@gmail.com.

PREPARING FOR 3 APRIL

If the government does not take the steps necessary to ensure that Mr. Abdelrazik is able to board his plane on 3 April, we will be  calling for protest actions on 3 April. If you would like to help out in  your location,  please get in touch at projectflyhome@gmail.com.

*The public campaign to bring Abousfian Abdelrazik home is endorsed by:

People’s Commission Network
Canadian Labour Congress
No one is illegal Ottawa
International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
PeaceWorks, Sarnia, Ontario
Peaceworks, Midland, Ontario
People for Peace, London
Council of Canadians | London
Educators for Justice – Waterloo Region Catholic School Board
Camp Micah: Leadership for Peace and Justice
Polaris Institute
Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War
Boundary Peace Initiative
Peace Alliance Winnipeg
Canadian Peace Alliance
Bengali Students Association of the University of Waterloo
Fredericton Peace Coalition
Advocacy Collective, Fredericton
Rassemblement Outaouais contre la guerre (ROCG)
Tikkun Toronto
Canadian Union of Postal Workers
NOWAR-PAIX
Bathurst United Church in Toronto
The Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee
Toronto Action for Social Change

Tags: Abousfian Abdelrazik, Lawrence Cannon, Sudan

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