[IPSM] {Update} Osama Saleh - Palestinian Refugee Facing Deportation from Canada

[Stefan Christoff]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2004 16:17:18 -0800 (PST)
From: Palestinian Refugees - Montreal <refugees at riseup.net>


UPDATE on Osama Saleh:
>From the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees

Montreal --- Osama Saleh a stateless Palestinian refugee facing
deportation to the occupied West Bank, faced a "Judicial Review" at the
Federal Court of Canada. With more than 50 supporters packed in the
courtroom, the Federal Court Justice did not present a ruling on the case,
instead requesting both Osama's lawyer and the lawyer representing
Citizenship and Immigration Canada to file further arguments within the
coming weeks, regarding the legality of Osama's pending deportation. In
this light the struggle against Osama's deportation continues.

The Federal Court hearing took place within the context of an
international week of action --- November 9th - 16th --- against the
ongoing construction of Israel's Apartheid Wall throughout the West Bank.
Immigration lawyer Stewart Istvanffy argued in Federal Court, that Osama,
like all Palestinians in the West Bank, is directly affected by the
Apartheid Wall and policies of collective punishment inflicted on the
Palestinian people by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

During both the first and second Intifada, Osama was incarcerated for his
participation in the Palestinian popular uprisings against Israeli
occupation. Through Osama's experience of resistance to occupation, he
presents a living face of the Palestinian struggle for liberation in
Montreal. As stated in the November 9th Federal Court hearing by Osama's
lawyer, "Osama was jailed for trying to fight for the self-determination
for the people of his country, Palestine".

It is on this basis of persecution that Osama struggles for recognition as
a refugee and for his status in Canada, highlighting the seamless link
between the struggle of Palestinian refugees in Montreal against
deportations and the broader struggle for Palestinian freedom and
liberation throughout the world.

The case of Osama Saleh represents the broader struggle over 40 stateless
Palestinian refugees against deportation from Canada. The Coalition
Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees, continues to call for
your support and solidarity for the struggle against Palestinian
deportations from Canada. If you are interested in getting involved with
or supporting Palestinian refugees in Montreal, please contact us.

In Solidarity,
The Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees
514 591 3171 / refugees at riseup.net / refugees.resist.ca

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