[antiwar-van] DEPORTATION POSTPONED: VICTORY FOR MOURAD

[noii-van at resist.ca]

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* VICTORY FOR MOURAD AND HIS FAMILY *

A small but energetic demonstration with Refugees Against Racial Profiling
and their supporters took place today at Citizenship and Immigration
Canada to protest the deportation of Mouard Khinneche to Algeria. Mourad
was facing deportation to a civil war in Algeria that has taken the lives
of over 200,000 people. Mourad was devastated and fearful of leaving his
home in Vancouver, his job and his wife who is a Canadian citizen.
Messages of support came today for Mourad from various community
organizations, political candidates and members of the Muslim community.

Cabinet Minister Stephen Owen was cornered in his car as he was departing
from an All-Candidates meeting and one Algerian man facing deportation
challenged him "You are deporting us to Algeria because you think there
are no problems there. I tell you to go to Algeria, even for one month and
live there. Not in a hotel, without bodyguards, live there how we live,
see people tortured, watch people die, and worry about family members
disappeared, and then you can say that Algeria is safe for return"

Later that evening, Mourad received a phone call saying that his
deportation was postponed for "technical reasons" till June 22. Although
hardly a major victory, the family as well as members of Refugees Against
Racial Profiling certainly consider this their first ray of hope in their
continuing struggle for life and dignity.

The struggle for Mourad and all other refugees will continue in the coming
weeks. In order to create greater public awareness about their situation,
there will be a public assemebly in two weeks. We strongly encourage all
to attend and learn how to support this fight

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PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
SUNDAY JUNE 20
3 PM
PALESTINE CENTER
1874 KINSGWAY (corner Victoria)
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For more information, contact No One is Illegal at
778-552-2099 or noii-van at resist.ca

REFUGEES AGAINST RACIAL PROFILING DEMAND:

1)  An end to all racism in the Refugee Determination system that results
in unfair and inhuman deportations and detentions in Canada.
2)  Regularized status for all asylum seekers in Canada