[IPSM] PALESTINIAN REFUGEES: Update on Day of Action & Article on Sanctuary

[Stefan Christoff]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 12:30:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: No One is Illegal Montreal <noii-montreal at resist.ca>


{NOTE: More than 150 people gathered in Montreal yesterday to protest the
pending deportation of Palestinian refugees from Canada and in opposition
to the ongoing Israeli war crimes being committed against the residents of
the Rafah refugee camp. Yesterday's demonstration as part of a North
American wide day of action, illustrates the growing movement against the
effort of Immigration Canada to deport Palestinian refugees, to the deadly
and illegal Israeli military occupation and the poverty and persecution
which defines daily life in the refugee camps of Lebanon.

There were solidarity demonstrations and actions organized in New York and
Toronto. In NYC people gathered to protest outside of the Canadian
Consulate, in support of the Coalition Against the Deportation of
Palestinian Refugees and in Toronto a delegation of supporters visited the
offices of Immigration Canada, to stress their support for the struggle of
the Palestinian refugees facing deportation. There are many actions and
events being planned in the coming weeks if you are interested in getting
involved or supporting the Coalition Against the Deportation of
Palestinian Refugees please get in touch: refugees at riseup.net / 514 591
3171}

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THREE PALESTINIANS: LIVING IN SANCTUARY
"Where the sun don't shine"
by Sara Falconer

Palestinian refugees in lightless NDG church sanctuary see little movement
on deportation case
{http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=3154}

Outside, it's 23 degrees and the sun's touch is still a giddy novelty. But
in the cool church basement in Notre-Dame-de-Grace, three Palestinian
refugees have been touched by little except fluorescent light and
industrial pastels for nearly four months.

On January 30, 60-somethings Khalil Ayoub, Nabih Ayoub and Therese Boulos
Haddad took sanctuary to avoid deportation. Not that sanctuary is any
guarantee of safety these days: In March, police in Quebec City violated
the tradition for the first time ever in Canada to arrest non-status
Algerian refugee and activist Mohamed Cherfi.

Exhausted but patient, Nabih and wife Therese settle in at a worn folding
table to talk. Nabih's brother Khalil is in the adjacent kitchen. The
family has lived in Canada for three years ("Three years and 16 days,"
Nabih interjects). They spent the previous ten years living in the Ein
El-Helweh refugee camp in Lebanon.

"Their situation was very difficult," explains translator Maya Antaki. The
camp was under the control of several militias, and their 24-year-old son
decided to flee rather than join the fighting. After he left, the Ayoub
family was harassed and threatened. "If you want to stay alive, you'll
have to leave."

Apparently that's not enough for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, who
denied their claim for landed refugee status. When asked about the
possibility of deportation back to Lebanon, both become visibly
distressed. After a moment of tense conferring, Antaki translates, "They
would prefer to die here than return."

Many of the Palestinian refugees in Montreal who are facing deportation in
the coming weeks have self-organized as the Coalition Against the
Deportation of Palestinian Refugees. The Coalition has proven tireless in
its ability to reach the public through petitions, demonstrations and
other events.

The 4.5 million Palestinian refugees worldwide have been stateless since
they, their parents or grandparents were expelled from their homes
following the declaration of the Israeli state in 1948. Most of Montreal's
Palestinian refugees are from Lebanon's camps and the occupied
territories.

According to the United Nations, the 360,000 refugees in Lebanon cope with
appalling human rights abuses. They are forbidden from owning property,
are not allowed to work in over 78 professions, and often have to perform
manual labour or work illegally, with 60 to 80 per cent living in poverty.
They have no political rights and their movement is restricted. In the
camps, residences are cramped, some without water, electricity and sewage
systems.

In the occupied territories, thousands of Palestinian refugees are
homeless as a result of house demolitions. Hundreds have been subjected to
illegal arrests, torture and extrajudicial executions by the Israeli
occupying forces. It is little surprise that many are desperate to leave,
at any cost.

"They came here with full hope because of the reputation that Canada has
in the refugee camps in Lebanon for protecting human rights," says refugee
Ahmed Mustapha.

Canada officially opposes the occupation and Israel's treatment of
Palestinians, and according to the Geneva Convention, will not send a
person back to a country where they might be persecuted or "exposed to the
risk of torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment."

Yet since 9/11, more and more Palestinian refugee claims are being
rejected by Immigration Canada. The controversial Immigration and Refugee
Protection Act, which was passed in June 2002, in part limits the ability
of refugees to appeal the decision of a single judge against them.

Mustapha got involved with the Coalition after he received a negative
decision in his own case. "There's no hope for judicial review," he says.
"It's a formality."

As a result of deportation orders, at least six Palestinian refugees are
hiding "underground" in Montreal. They live in constant fear of arrest,
unable to even see a doctor if necessary. "They prefer to live with these
conditions than to go back to refugee camps," Mustapha says.

Coalition members and supporters celebrated their first major victory in
April when a judge halted the deportation of Osama Saleh to the West Bank.
The federal court will now review his case in more detail before making a
final decision. Organizers credit the decision to a vigorous campaign of
letters, phone calls and protests aimed at Minister of Citizenship and
Immigration Judy Sgro.

This week, a day of solidarity with Palestinian refugees facing
deportation is planned in Vancouver, Toronto, New York and other North
American cities to demand a halt to the deportation of Palestinian
refugees and the acceptance of their claims for permanent residency on
humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

On Thursday, May 20, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Coalition Against the
Deportation of Palestinian Refugees and supporters will demonstrate at the
local offices of Citizenship and Immigration Canada at 1010 St-Antoine
West (Bonaventure metro). For more information, contact
refugees at riseup.net.

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