[antiwar-van] URGENT! DEPORTATION OF IRANIAN ACTIVIST

[No One is Illegal-Vancouver]

URGENT!!

STOP THE DEPORTATION OF HALEH SAHBA-
--GRANT HER LANDED STATUS IN CANADA—

* also see below for sample letter *

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PACK FEDERAL COURT HEARING
701 WEST GEORGIA
MONDAY DECEMBER 6 AT 9:30 AM

PICKET CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CANADA
300 WEST GEORGIA
MONDAY DECEMBER 6 AT NOON

For more information
Contact No One is Illegal Vancouver
noii-van at resist.ca or call 604-682-3269 ext. 7149

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Haleh Sahba is a 30-year old refugee claimant in Vancouver- Canada whose
is facing deportation to Iran on Tuesday Dec 7, 2004. Haleh has spent
almost 3 years struggling with Immigration of Canada, and like many
refugees in the post 9/11 climate, her case was denied. Now, after 3 years
of trying to build a life here, Immigration Canada, with less than one
week notice, has booked a flight to deport her to Iran on Tuesday Dec 7,
2004 at 10:30 AM.

Haleh has filed for a stay of deportation, a last minute attempt to remain
in Canada, which will be heard on Monday December 6 in Federal Court. It
is imperative that we pack the courtroom in support of Haleh and continue
to pressure the government to grant her landed status in Canada.

Haleh fled Iran as women’s right activist and student activist involved in
the movement for democracy in Iran. Haleh and others in her family have
been active since a young age for womens rights and democratic rights in
Iran. Her aunt is a well-known activist who fled Iran due to her work.
Haleh herself was abused by her husband due to her increasing work as an
activist and struggled to get a divorce. Due to her activities she was
banned from Tehran University for three years (1997-2000) and only allowed
to return in 2000 with many restrictions and conditions. In July 2000, she
was arrested as one of the protest organizers at Tehran University. Upon
being released from jail, Haleh went into hiding and fled Iran in 2000 and
arrived in Canada in January 2001.

Immigration Canada refused to acknowledge that she would face danger if
forced to return to Iran.

Haleh worked as assistant manager in a Star Bucks for almost 2 years and
also carries a degree in English Studies and is highly experienced as a
piano teacher. During her stay in Canada, she actively supported and
participated in the Iranian movement for women’s rights and volunteered
and organized with various women centres.

Haleh’s family lives in Canada. She has no one in Iran and no prospects
for employment. Being forced to return to Iran has always been her
greatest fear. Once in Iran, she will certainly be detained (leaving Iran
with false documents is a crime punishable by upto 5 years imprisonment)
and probably imprisoned for even longer due to her previous activities in
Iran and also her involvement in Canada, which places her at far greater
risk.

On November 5, 2004 Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew announced
that Canada tabled a resolution at the 59th session of the UN General
Assembly, on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran and the
Canadian government maintains a travel advisory to Iran for Canadians.
Meanwhile, the Immigration Canada is sending Haleh, and others Iranians,
back to serious danger.

Please support Haleh; by immediate email, fax and phone call. This is her
only chance of winning!


* SAMPLE LETTER *

Judy Sgro, P.C., M.P.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
Fax: 613-947-8319, Tel: 613-992-7774
E-mail: Minister at cic.gc.ca

Anne McLellan, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
c/o Solicitor General of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
Fax: 613-990-9077, Tel: 613-991-2924
E-mail: McClellan.A at parl.gc.ca


I would like to draw your attention to Haleh Sahba, a 30-year old refugee
claimant in Vancouver- Canada whose is facing deportation to Iran on
Tuesday Dec 7, 2004. Now, after 3 years of trying to build a life here,
Immigration Canada, with less than one week notice, has booked a flight to
deport her to Iran on Tuesday Dec 7, 2004 at 10:30 AM.

Haleh fled Iran as women’s right activist and student activist involved in
the movement for democracy in Iran. Haleh and others in her family have
been active since a young age for womens rights in Iran. Her aunt is a
well-known activist who fled Iran due to her work. Haleh herself was
abused by her husband due to her increasing work as an activist. Due to
her activites she was banned from Tehran University for three years
(1997-2000) and only allowed to return in 2000 with many restrictions and
conditions. In July 2000, she was arrested as one of the protest
organizers at Tehran University. Upon being released from jail, Haleh went
into hiding and fled Iran in 2000 and arrived in Canada in January 2001.

Haleh worked as assistant manager in a Star Bucks for almost 2 years also
carries a degree in English Studies and is a highly experienced piano
teacher. During her stay in Canada, she actively supported and
participated in the Iranian movement for women’s rights and volunteered
and organized with various women centres.

Haleh’s family lives in Canada. She has no one in Iran and no prospects
for employment. Being forced to return to Iran has always been her
greatest fear. Once in Iran, she will certainly be detained (leaving Iran
with false documents is a crime punishable by upto 5 years imprisonment)
and probably imprisoned for even longer due to her previous activities in
Iran and also her involvement in Canada, which places her at far greater
risk.

On November 5, 2004 Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew announced
that Canada tabled a resolution at the 59th session of the UN General
Assembly, on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran and the
Canadian government maintains a travel advisory to Iran for Canadians.
Meanwhile, the Immigration Canada is sending Haleh, and others Iranians,
back to serious danger.

I urge you to please consider the mounting support for Haleh from
community groups, student groups, womens groups, and members of political
parties. I urge you to intervene in the case of Haleh on humanitarian and
compassionate grounds to allow her the right to remain in Canada and be
granted regularized status immediately.

Sincerely,
(Your name and address)




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The No One is Illegal campaign is in full confrontation with Canadian
colonial border policies, denouncing and taking action to combat racial
profiling of immigrants and refugees, detention and deportation policies,
and wage-slave conditions of migrant workers and non-status people.

We struggle for the right for our communities to maintain their
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