[news] Victory! Release of Bilquis and Imran (mtl)

[resist]

-----Forwarded Message-----
From: ha rsha <hwalia08 at hotmail.com>
To: van-discuss at lists.resist.ca, van-announce at lists.resist.ca
Subject: [van-discuss] VICTORY! RELEASE OF BILQUIS AND IMRAN (mtl)
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2003 05:26:42 +0000


RELEASE OF BILQUIS AND IMRAN FROM DETENTION!!!

***  NEW WESBITE ***:  http://bilquisfatima.tripod.com/

There has finally been a victory in the case of Bilquis and Imran!!!

On September 17, 2003 Bilquis and Imran received approval to appeal their 
PRRA rejection to the Federal Court of Appeal.

The percentage of claimants that are approved for an appeal hearing is under 
10% and this major victory has undoubtedly been due to the massive political 
campaign in support of Bilquis and Imran all around the country. Thank you 
to the hundreds of supporters and allies who have previously written to 
Minister Coderre, attended press conferences and rallies, organized 
solidarity actions and campaigns in various cities and offered their support 
to Bilquis and Imran and all the Pakistani refugees.

Their appearing at the Federal Court of Appeal is set for December and until 
then a stay has been granted and they are being released from detention on 
Monday September 29, 2003. Their case HAS NOT BEEN WON until they are 
granted a permanent stay and their deportation order is overturned. Minister 
Coderre still has the ability to intervene and stop the deportation and our 
campaign must continue.

This case carries major implications for all the Pakistani refugees, as well 
as other communities such as the Algerians and Palestinians in Montreal who 
are self-organizing to resist the policies of CIC and IRB. The deliberate 
decision not to intervene in this case is easily construed as a reactionary 
and authoritative decision on the part of CIC and IRB to exert their powers 
over asylum seekers who are gaining strength as a movement for justice in 
numbers, morale, and supporters.

To all allies and supporters, PLEASE CONTINUE TO URGENTLY FAX/EMAIL/CALL 
Coderre immediately. THE STRUGGLE  IS NOT YET OVER!!!

Please be polite but firm in letters, and see below for sample letter and 
backgrounder with important points to stress in your phone call, fax or 
email. PLEASE ACT TODAY !

Solidarity and struggle, friends and neigbours of Bilquis and Imran, Action 
Committee, No One is Illegal, and REBELdesis. Contact nooneisillegal at tao.ca 
or call 514-409-2049.


*** SAMPLE LETTER *** TAKE ACTION !!!
CONTINUED PRESSURE ON MINISTER CODERRE

Please be polite but firm in letters, and see below for sample letter with 
important points to stress in your phone call, fax or email.

* The contact information of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, 
Denis Coderre:
Phone: (613) 957-0312
Fax: (613) 957-2688
Email: Minister at cic.gc.ca

His Montreal Constituency Office(s)
Phone: (514) 323-1212
Fax: (514) 323-2875
Email: Coderd1 at parl.gc.ca


September 28, 2003

Honourable :

I would like to draw your particular attention to the case of Mrs. Bilquis 
Fatima, a Pakistani woman and her 17 year old son Imran Hussain who have 
recently been released from the Laval Detention Centre in Montreal after 
being incarcerated for over three months.

Bilquis and Imran have been granted a stay until their Federal Court of 
Appeal hearing, yet they are still fearful about the outcome of this hearing 
and the very real possibility of deportation.

Bilquis Fatima is 64 years old. She is in extremely poor health, uses a 
wheelchair, has had two heart attacks and needs kidney dialysis three times 
a week. She and her son have been in Montreal for the past two years during 
which time her refugee claim was in process.

Bilquis fled Pakistan after the murder of her husband. She belongs to a 
minority community in Pakistan which has been under attack and has 
well-founded fears that if she goes back to Pakistan, her life and the life 
of her son will be in danger. In addition, she is in no condition to remain 
in detention or make the long and life-threatening trip back to Pakistan or 
the US.

I urge you to please consider the mounting support for Bilquis from various 
church groups, unions, student groups, womens groups, media outlets, members 
of political parties, and community organizations. You, Minister Coderre, 
carry immense discretionary powers to stop this deportation and I urge you 
to intervene in the case of Bilquis and demonstrate a commitment to values 
of compassion and dignity. On humanitarian and compassionate grounds you 
should intervene immediately to allow Bilquis and Imran the right to remain 
in Canada and be granted regularized status immediately.