Canadian Unsafe in Safe Haven of Khartoum Embassy: Bernier’s Promises Broken

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On April, 30, 2008, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier promised in the House of Commons that Mr. Abousfian Abdelrazik a Canadian citizen who is currently in the Canadian embassy in Sudan has been given free access to speak to his lawyer. The reality is, however, that his legal counsel’s calls have been routinely routed through the media relations office in Ottawa and that legal counsel has been given no assurance that his calls with Mr. Abdelrazik are free and unmonitored, despite his repeated requests for such assurance. Counsel believes that his calls are being monitored by the Canadian government – in violation of the essential principle of solicitor and client privilege. Further, Counsel has on May 2, 2008 been completely denied access to Mr. Abdelrazik. Counsel has not been told when access will resume, if at all.

Mr. Abdelrazik has been told by consular officials that he will not be fed regularly. Over the weekend, consular staff has stated he will not be fed three meals daily. Consular staff has also stressed that Mr. Abdelrazik’s personal amenities are capped at $100 monthly ­ possibly not enough to go on feeding him throughout May. It appears the Harper government is trying to starve Mr. Abdelrazik out of the embassy, literally.

Mr. Abdelrazik has been denied all contact with members of the Canadian and international press and has been denied access to the internet or any means of receiving information on the coverage of his case in Canada. He is currently living in an information vacuum, in fear because he does not know the attention his case is getting. His constitutional freedom of religion is being denied as he is not being given access to a private room to perform his daily prayers. He lives his days under the watchful eye of a Canadian panoptic prison.

It appears that the Canadian government may be intent on forcing him out of the embassy by depriving him of food and basic amenities. His lawyer and family are very concerned about this recent turn of events.

Canada¹s treatment of Mr. Abdelrazik is cruel and extraordinary and is causing him extreme mental suffering. Mr. Abdelrazik has broken down in tears as a result of his treatment. The commitment of Mr. Bernier to provide humanitarian aid and communication with his lawyer is being flagrantly violated.

CONTACT: Yavar Hameed

Tel. (613) 232-2688 ext. 228/ 230
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Short URL: http://tinyurl.com/ydll3o9