[antiwar-van] Update on Hunger striking Hassan and Mohammed

[No One is Illegal-Vancouver]

Hassan Almrei ends 73-day hunger strike on a hopeful note
Mohammed Still on Hunger strike
Hundreds Rally across Canada in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, London, and
Edmonton


*** Hassan's Statement is Below

Hassan Almrei, a Syrian refugee on day 73 of his hunger strike from his
solitary confinement cell in Metro West Detention Centre, decided to
suspend his hunger strike because of the hope he has been given
by many people across Canada.

Shortly after 4 pm on Saturday September 3, as over 300 people gathered
around the entrance to the Metro West, Almrei was able to call out from
his cell and announce through a friend that he had broken the hunger
strike. He was overcome with emotion as he heard the gathered throng
cheering in support.


THERE IS STILL MUCH TO BE DONE TO END THE TRAGEDY OF SECRET TRIALS IN CANADA.

Hassan is hoping that folks will continue contacting Monte Kwinter and Anne
McLellan, urging that they change his conditions of detention. Mohammad
Mahjoub is asking the same.

Mr. Monte Kwinter
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
18th floor, 25 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, ON, M7A 1Y6
Phone: (416) 325-0408
Fax: (416) 325-6067
Email: mkwinter.mpp at liberal.ola.org



HASSAN'S STATEMENT
September 3, 2005

This is a note for the people of Canada, and for all the people
demonstrating today at this jail.:

I, Hassan Almrei, am in day 73 of my sixth hunger strike since October,
2001, when I was arrested on a security certificate. I have not been
charged with anything, ever, in this country or in Syria, and my home for
the past four years has been four walls in a 9 X 12 solitary confinement
cell. I am held on secret evidence.

My hunger strike is not just for myself. It is for all the people who face
these conditions of detention. I am sad that the Ontario government will
not give me my basic human rights. These rights are in international law
and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is why we need to go to court
on October 11 to fight for these rights. I wish the government would save
the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and give me my rights, but
they are insisting we go to court.

Many people have asked me to stop my hunger strike. They have said how
upset they are. They have sympathy for these issues. I appreciate this. But
sympathy is not enough. People need to speak up, to challenge this secret
evidence, the deportations to torture, this indefinite detention in
solitary confinement, for me, for the other secret trial detainees, for
anyone in this situation.

In the past week, I have heard about demonstrations in Canada supporting my
demands. I have heard that hundreds and hundreds of people have been
writing, calling, faxing Monte Kwinter, Paul Martin, Anne McLellan, and Joe
Volpe. This has given me hope.

Despite everything that has happened to me, I still think Canada is the
best country in the whole world. The response of the Canadian people to my
hunger strike confirms this for me. When they know what is really
happening, people in Canada do care. I also want to thank the guards in
segregation and the health unit at Metro West, who have shown very great
concern for me during this hunger strike.

The hunger strike is my only voice in here. It is the only way I have to
wake people up to what is going on in here. You, the Canadian people,  have
helped me make my voice very loud and clear. I want to thank you a million
times for this. My words can't express how much I feel and appreciate your
support, and your concern about my health. I wish there were something I
could give all of you.

Mahatma Gandhi went on hunger strikes in India. Sometimes he would stop
them when he saw positive things happening, when he saw a reason to believe
in hope.

Because of the new hope you have given me, today I will end my hunger
strike, but NOT my struggle for my rights.

So please, as my voice on the outside, I need you to keep speaking up, to
not be afraid, and to come to court on October 11 for my hearing. I need
you to speak up about the secret trials, about the conditions of detention,
about the deportations to torture.

I hope I can meet each and every one of you someday soon. But for now,
someone else holds the key to my door.

Thank you very much.     Hassan Almrei



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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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theft of land and displacement.