[Bloquez l'empire!] [KADER] GUERILLA VERNISSAGE at Montreal IRB offices

[Soutien Kader]

GUERILLA VERNISSGE AT MONTREAL IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE BOARD OFFICES
704: Still here/ Toujours là -  An exhibition of photographs of Abdelkader
Belaouni.

--> Photo essay of the guerrilla vernissage: http://photos.cmaq.net/v/704/

A delegation of 30 friends and supporters of Abdelkader Belaouni set
up a photo vernissage - with human easels - in front of the
Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) offices on December 5th.

The exhibit, which portrays Mr. Belaouni's 704 days in sanctuary, will
move to his neighborhood of Pointe St-Charles today.  704: Still here/
Toujours là will be displayed for the coming month in the offices of the
Community Legal Services of Pointe St-Charles and Little Burgundy, 2533
Centre St. # 101 (Charlevoix metro). They can be visited Monday to Friday
from 8:30 to 4:30pm. The photos can also be viewed on line at
www.tatianagomez.net/kb2/.

Since 1 January 2006, Abdelkader Belaouni, has been confined to St
Gabriel's church in Pointe St.-Charles, Montreal. Under threat of
deportation, he is unable to leave church property. Mr. Belaouni was refused
by an IRB Commissioner, Laurier Thibault, who refused 99% of the cases
before him in a two-year period.

Through 704: Still here/ Toujours là, Montreal-based photographer
Tatiana Gomez offers an intimate portrait of Kader, his life in
sanctuary and his struggle to keep hope and dignity alive.

"By forcing him to seek sanctuary, to be imprisoned within the church,
the government has tried to make Kader's life invisible", said Gomez,
"We are here today to break that invisibility, bringing him here
through these portraits and testifying to the day-to-day realities of
his life in sanctuary and the growing support for his struggle to live
with dignity and status in Canada."

Rick Goldman, of the Table de concertation des organismes au service des
personnes réfugiées et immigrantes (TCRI) also spoke at the vernissage.

At the end of the event, a marching band led the procession of human
easels through the city's underground, from Complexe Guy Favreau to
Place-des-Arts metro, while hundreds of on-lookers enjoyed the
unexpected photo exhibit and musical performance.

January 1, 2008 will be the 2 year mark since Abdelkader (Kader)
Belaouni took sanctuary in St. Gabriel's Church. Kader continues to
demand an immediate regularization of his status so that he can leave
the church without the risk of arrest and deportation, and continue his
life here, in Canada.

Under the banner ""TWO YEARS TOO MANY!", Status for Kader NOW!", we
invite you to join us at two important events :
* Friday, 18 January 2008: International Day of Action with Montreal march
in support of status for Kader
* Saturday, 26 January 2008: Community dinner and Cultural event at St.
Gabriel's Church


Background: www.soutienpourkader.net

-----------------
Committee to Support Abdelkader Belaouni
soutienkader at gmail.com
Tel.: 514-691-0567


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