Canadian stranded in Sudan refused passport

jdobbin · April 3, 2009

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianp...henOP2Fy-TB3tuA

A Canadian man remains stranded in Sudan after the federal government refused to grant him travel documents on the grounds he is a national security threat.
Abousfian Abdelrazik was set to fly home to Montreal on Friday on a flight paid for by his supporters, after living inside the lobby of the Canadian embassy in Khartoum for the last year.

But two hours before Abdelrazik, 47, was supposed to board his flight, the Justice Department faxed his Ottawa-based lawyer, Yavar Hameed, a terse letter denying him an emergency passport.

"The minister of foreign affairs has decided to refuse your client's request for an emergency passport," it says.

The RCMP and CSIS have made it clear they have nothing, no file on this guy.

What does the government have that their own intelligence services don't?

85RZ500 · April 3, 2009

Not sure, heard Cannon saying something about judicial process and another Con mumbling something similar.

I like Dewar. the NDP saying let's bring him home.

OK sir, he holds a Sudanese citizenship, he's home already.

waldo · April 3, 2009

Not sure, heard Cannon saying something about judicial process and another Con mumbling something similar.
I like Dewar. the NDP saying let's bring him home.

OK sir, he holds a Sudanese citizenship, he's home already.

Abousfian Abdelrazik is a Canadian citizen... perhaps he is not "as Canadian" as is, apparently, preferred by the Harper Conservative party... or perhaps yourself. Some are lamenting the fact his skin colour doesn't match that of Brenda Martin - oh my!

a shameful display of Conservative party incompetence, indifference... and worse!

punked · April 3, 2009

Not sure, heard Cannon saying something about judicial process and another Con mumbling something similar.
I like Dewar. the NDP saying let's bring him home.

OK sir, he holds a Sudanese citizenship, he's home already.

Are saying we should kick out all dual citizens?

Progressive Tory · April 3, 2009

a shameful display of Conservative party incompetence, indifference... and worse!

And sadly all too typical.

Wilber · April 4, 2009

Are saying we should kick out all dual citizens?

I think dual citizenship should only apply until a person comes of age, then they have to make up their minds who they are, regardless of what colour they may be.

jdobbin · April 4, 2009

I think dual citizenship should only apply until a person comes of age, then they have to make up their minds who they are, regardless of what colour they may be.

In the mean time, Canada is a refusing entry back into Canada of a citizen for reasons that even our intelligence agencies don't know about.

punked · April 4, 2009

I think dual citizenship should only apply until a person comes of age, then they have to make up their minds who they are, regardless of what colour they may be.

You aren't allowed to give up some citizenships, like Sudan, and Syria. So what then? What if the country doesn't let give up their citizenship? You think this man was wrong to go visit his dieing mother because Sudan never let him give up his citizenship?

Edited April 4, 2009 by punked

bush_cheney2004 · April 4, 2009

You aren't allowed to give up some citizenships, like Sudan, and Syria. So what then? What if the country doesn't let give up their citizenship? You think this man was wrong to go visit his dieing mother because Sudan never let him give up his citizenship?

Tough bounce.....just don't skip out on manadatory military service like Muher Arar did.

Edited April 4, 2009 by bush_cheney2004

punked · April 4, 2009

Tough bounce.....just don't skip out on manadatory military service like Muher Arare did.

I know it seems like the same situation because our government can't learn from their mistakes but we are talking about something different.

bush_cheney2004 · April 4, 2009

I know it seems like the same situation because our government can't learn from their mistakes but we are talking about something different.

OK....nevermind....I don't like to miss chances to needle Arar's case.

Topaz · April 4, 2009

I listened to the NDP member, the lawyer, and what they are saying make sense because if the RCMP and CSIS is passing ok, and the government did say, buy a ticket and we'll bring you home and he does this and at the last minute today the government says no, and HIDES behind the security issue than what are you going to believe???? This why, other of Canadians citizen who are not "white" are not getting the help from the Tories?? What about the teen who is going to beheaded for getting into a fight and I think the other boy died. This party has issues with women and it wouldn't surprise me if racism were involved!

Visionseeker · April 4, 2009

I think dual citizenship should only apply until a person comes of age, then they have to make up their minds who they are, regardless of what colour they may be.

Tell that to Myron Thompson, former Reform, Alliance, Conservative MP. He's a dual Canada-US citizen.

Dual (or even multiple) citizenship is a choice that those who are eligible are free to make. I don't begrudge them their choice because it's none of my (or your) freaking business. You'd probably do better in your own life by focusing on your business rather than trying to inject yourself into the lives of others.

Visionseeker · April 4, 2009

I listened to the NDP member, the lawyer, and what they are saying make sense because if the RCMP and CSIS is passing ok, and the government did say, buy a ticket and we'll bring you home and he does this and at the last minute today the government says no, and HIDES behind the security issue than what are you going to believe???? This why, other of Canadians citizen who are not "white" are not getting the help from the Tories?? What about the teen who is going to beheaded for getting into a fight and I think the other boy died. This party has issues with women and it wouldn't surprise me if racism were involved!

It's called playing to the base. The Conservatives are running scared and trying to stoke issues that will get their base out to vote (i.e. Gun registry, security and simple islamophobia). This guy is nothing more than a victim of Conservatives playing politics. The party on the right seem to have difficulties doing the right thing.

Wilber · April 4, 2009

Tell that to Myron Thompson, former Reform, Alliance, Conservative MP. He's a dual Canada-US citizen.
Dual (or even multiple) citizenship is a choice that those who are eligible are free to make. I don't begrudge them their choice because it's none of my (or your) freaking business. You'd probably do better in your own life by focusing on your business rather than trying to inject yourself into the lives of others.

By having dual citizenship they are not making a choice.

jdobbin · April 4, 2009

By having dual citizenship they are not making a choice.

This is a separate issue that shouldn't be decided on a case by case basis, don't you think?

If someone is a Canadian, they shouldn't have the government unilaterally declare they don't have the right as such. They shouldn't be able to make claims against a person without presenting evidence. They shouldn't have the unilateral power to end the right of return.

Wilber · April 4, 2009

You aren't allowed to give up some citizenships, like Sudan, and Syria. So what then? What if the country doesn't let give up their citizenship? You think this man was wrong to go visit his dieing mother because Sudan never let him give up his citizenship?

If you aren't allowed to give up a citizenship there isn't much you can do about it. If you are, you should make a choice. I'm not a big fan of citizenships of convenience, these are fellow citizens you can't count on.

Wilber · April 4, 2009

This is a separate issue that shouldn't be decided on a case by case basis, don't you think?
If someone is a Canadian, they shouldn't have the government unilaterally declare they don't have the right as such. They shouldn't be able to make claims against a person without presenting evidence. They shouldn't have the unilateral power to end the right of return.

I think that because this person is a Canadian citizen, he should be issued a passport unless they can convince the courts they are justified in revoking that citizenship. I'm not siding with the government on this particular case, I'm just saying I don't believe in dual citizenships.

jdobbin · April 4, 2009

I'm not siding with the government on this particular case, I'm just saying I don't believe in dual citizenships.

The government doesn't seem to be making that a priority. Nor does it seem to be the reason or shouldn't be for denying this person the right of return which is guaranteed for every citizen.

It alarms me when presenting evidence is eliminated from decisionmaking on the part of the government.

tango · April 4, 2009

It's called playing to the base. The Conservatives are running scared and trying to stoke issues that will get their base out to vote (i.e. Gun registry, security and simple islamophobia). This guy is nothing more than a victim of Conservatives playing politics. The party on the right seem to have difficulties doing the right thing.

Just look at how sick we have allowed our country to become!

People with the attitudes you describe should not be electing our governments.

They should be deported ... to the great 'white nation' of the north - the ice pack - along with all the other white supremacists! :lol:

Harper is truly a racist pig.

MontyBurns · April 4, 2009

Just look at how sick we have allowed our country to become!
People with the attitudes you describe should not be electing our governments.

They should be deported ... to the great 'white nation' of the north - the ice pack - along with all the other white supremacists!

Harper is truly a racist pig.

We should deport our socialists to Sudan so they can spend time with their good buddies there.

benny · April 4, 2009

We should deport our socialists to Sudan so they can spend time with their good buddies there.

We should mandate Harper to go to Sudan, capture President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and bring him to the International Criminal Court.

Cameron · April 5, 2009

Ottawa had long said it would hand over his travel documents if he had a ticket, but Cannon announced last week Abdelrazik would first have to get his name off a UN no-fly list.

His lawyer should also call the UN and ask them why he's on their no-fly list.

And some of you guys above are stretching it with your conclusions.

Edited April 5, 2009 by Cameron

Radsickle · April 5, 2009

Next time he asks for help from Canada, lets send him a note telling him to look more like Brenda Martin if he really expects Canada to care. Doesn't he notice that Canada doesn't care about him or Omar Khadr anymore?! Geeze, get with the times. Canada's moving forward and we won't be burdened by sob stories anymore. Political Optics are more important than human rights these days. So what if you're a citizen... Geeze.

Harper sucks

Edited April 5, 2009 by Radsickle

Molly · April 5, 2009

Citizenship used to mean some level of protection /proprietorship, but Canadians can now expect to have no nation in their corner. Now we know that if we end up caught in some awful circumstance outside our borders, there'll be no backing.

This is consistent- repeatedly illustrated. It's disgraceful, but completely consistent.

This one, though, seems particularly mean-minded, since it isn't just a denial of assistance, but denial of the basic rights due a Canadian. Refusing to issue a passport? Excuse me, but if he's a Canadian citizen, get off the pot and issue the (bleep)ing passport. It may or may not help him get out of there, but it IS his right.