[news] {Montreal} MONDAY JULY 12th: PACK the Federal Court Hearing! - Stop the Deportation of Shamim Akhtar & Her Family to Pakistan

[Stefan Christoff]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 11:33:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: No One is Illegal Montreal <noii-montreal at resist.ca>


STOP THE DEPORTATION OF SHAMIM AKHTAR & HER FAMILY TO PAKISTAN!
Last Minute Stand: Pack the Federal Court Hearing!

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Monday July 12th, 9:30am SHARP!
Federal Court of Canada
30 McGill street
Corner of De La Commune
(Square Victoria Metro)
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Shamim Akhtar & her family have appealed for a stay of their deportation
order at the Federal Court of Canada. It is crucial that we pack the
Federal Court hearing, as part of the ongoing public campaign in
solidarity with the Akhtar / Khan family's struggle against deportation.

A public display of the popular support, which exists for the Akhtar /
Khan family's fight against deportation at the Federal Court is critical,
as it will have an influence on the outcome of the Federal Court hearing.
It is only with your active participation and support that this unjust
deportation can be halted. It is crucial for us to show up in great
numbers at the Federal Court!


In this Message:

1) Deportation Date Issued
2) Urgent Funding Appeal
3) Background Information

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UPDATE: Deportation Date Issued
================================>

The Akhtar family is now facing deportation are facing deportation from
Montreal, Canada once again on Tuesday July 13th, 2004 at 8 am.
Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC), has issued the latest deportation
order for the Akhtar / Khan family within the context of a public campaign
against their deportation, lead by the family, the Pakistani community and
supported by many individuals, groups & organizations throughout Canada.

Rather than simply staying the deportation order in the face of clear
evidence that the family faces serious danger, possible torture and death
in Pakistan, CIC is plowing ahead with this deportation.

The Akhtar family is one of the most active families within the Action
Committee of Pakistani Refugees and Shamim is key organizer and
spokespersons of the Women's Committee of Action Committee of Pakistani
Refugees. Their situation carries huge implications for the Action
Committee, which has been fighting deportations from Montreal for over one
year.

It is still possible to win this fight against deportation, as many
community groups, organizations and activists have been involved in the
families struggle against the efforts of Citizenship and Immigration
Canada to deport them. Outlined in the message below are concrete ways in
which individuals, groups and organizations can support this struggle
against deportation. It is only with your active participation and support
that this unjust deportation can be halted!

In Solidarity,
The Action Committee of Pakistani Refugees
No One is Illegal - Montreal
514 812 0858 / noii-montreal at resist.ca


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URGENT FUNDING APPEAL!
=======================>

Over and above the extensive COST of lawyers' fees, we are trying to raise
funds to cover the cost of materials, transportation and money for the
family to survive in the US in the case they are deported. Your financial
solidarity for the political fight against the Akhtar family's deportation
is extremely important.

If you are able to donate money to help cover these costs, please make
checks out to No One is Illegal Montreal with Shamim in the memo field.

Mail Checks to:

No One is Illegal Montreal
C/o QPIRG Concordia
1420 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 404
Montreal, Quebec
H3G 1K5

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
=======================>

Shamim Akhtar, her husband Naeem Khan, her daughter Sadaf Ali Khan (17
years old), daughter Sadia Ali Khan (15 years old), son Shan Ali Khan (13
years old) and son Sameer Ali Khan (2 years old) are facing deportation
from Montreal, Canada on July 13th, 2004.

The family was refused as refugee claimants in Montreal in August 2002
despite the grave risk they face if deported to Pakistan, either directly
or indirectly through the United States. In Karachi, Pakistan the family
were the direct targets of the militant and sectarian organization
Sipeh-e-Sahaba (SSP). Naeem was beaten and brutalized several times,
including once with bicycle chains, while Shamim and her daughters were
held at gun point in thier homes.

The family came to Canada in the hopes of finding a more humane refugee
determination system affording them the protection they sought and
deserved. Their refugee hearing took place in August 2002. They were
subsequently denied on patently unfair grounds.

The judge ruled that there was no significant threat to their life,
especially considering that President Musharraf had outlawed the SSP and
that order had been restored. This is clearly contrary to the IRB's own
reports (including US State Department reports that the judge misquoted)
and given the reality in Pakistan this past month alone: at least two
suicide bombings, numerous assualts, targeted killings and shoot-outs,
with Karachi being held under curfew last week. The rise in violence is
pervasive throughout Karachi, Lahore, Queta and other Pakistani areas.

An Amnesty report confirms that "President Musharraf banned five more
organizations including the SSP, but most of these announcements were only
inadequately implemented; the ban on sectarian organizations was not fully
enforced. In the last three years have seen an upsurge of systematic
targeted killings of people particularly in Karachi." This can certainly
be supported in light of recent serious violence in Karachi and Lahore
over the past month.

While in Canada, the family has been extremely involved in trying to raise
awareness about refugees and about hundreds of others facing similar
desperate situations. Their youngest son Sameer is Canadian born and it is
the duty of the Canadian government to provide a stable and safe home for
him in Montreal. Sadaf, their eldest daughter, is an extraordinary athlete
and student, having won several gold medals at her school. Sadia was the
best Science student in her class, while Shan has recieved gold medals on
his track and field team. The children are fluent in English and French
and their parents are hard working.

DEMAND A STAY OF DEPORTATION ON HUMANITARIAN AND COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS!
JUSTICE FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS & REFUGEES!

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