[van-discuss] Re: [van-announce] STOP THE DEPORTATION OF IRANIAN REFUGEES! Update

[Michael Rosen]

Hi,
First of all, excuse my ignorance on this topic, but I have a question that
people in this movement might be able to answer.

Does Canada only let in a specific number of refugees a year.  In other
words, by stopping deportations are we just allowing people who have made it
here the chance to stay and taking away the opportunity from someone else
who has not come here yet.  Is it a zero-sum gain?

I was very inspired by a panel I saw at a big anti-war conference in
Montreal on the deportation issue where I believe a woman from
fire-this-time spoke.

MR

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Shelley" <cshelley at direct.ca>
To: <van-discuss at resist.ca>
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2003 8:14 PM
Subject: [van-discuss] Re: [van-announce] STOP THE DEPORTATION OF IRANIAN
REFUGEES! Update


> The below report failed to include the fact that 3 demonstrators were
> arrested at the airport and two remain incarcerated. We have also heard
that
> Kobra and Hassan have now been deported, if this is true then it is a very
> sad thing indeed, an outrage and a defeat. Shame on Canada for risking
these
> peoples lives, No Borders, No where, No WAY!
>
> Chris
>
> on 22/1/03 7:29 pm, Mike Krebs at count3030 at yahoo.ca wrote:
>
> >
> > STOP THE DEPORTATION
> > OF IRANIAN REFUGEES, KOBRA AND HASSAN!
> > On Friday, January 17th, Kobra Natghi and her 21 year old son, Hassan
> > Esmat were called into an Immigration Canada office in Vancouver BC for
a
> > routine interview. At this "interview" they were arrested: legs chained
> > and handcuffed and taken to jail. Kobra and Hassan came to Canada four
> > years ago as political refugees from Iran where their rights were
severely
> > restricted and their lives were in grave danger. This danger has not
> > lessened; if they are allowed to be forced back to Iran by immigration
> > Canada they will almost certainly be imprisoned, tortured and killed.
> > Kobra and Hassan were scheduled to be deported on Tuesday January 21st
at
> > 4pm. They had both been transferred to the detention centre at the
> > Vancouver International Airport. Neither one of them had been allowed to
> > see their lawyer. Kobra had not eaten in the three days since she was
> > arrested and she has a severe anxiety disorder, Hassan has epilepsy and
> > they were both being denied medication. When they were loaded onto the
> > plane in handcuffs, Hassan suffered an epileptic seizure and the police
> > put him in a headlock, strangling him and further aggravating the
seizure.
> > His mother, Kobra, panicked and started screaming in Farsi for them to
let
> > him go. The pilot decided that Kobra and Hassan?s agitated presence put
> > the other passengers in danger so he had them removed from the plane.
> > There was a demonstration at the airport against the deportation of
Kobra
> > and Hassan. The demonstrators were preparing to distribute literature
> > about the deportation at the international departure gate when two
airport
> > officials led Kobra through the middle of the airport lobby. She was
> > surrounded by the demonstrators who chanted, "Stop the Deportation!" In
> > the confusion, Kobra escaped, ran from the airport and disappeared.
> > She remained at large while the police searched for her throughout the
> > city. Kobra contacted her lawyer in the evening and he convinced her to
> > turn herself in to the police. She now has contact with her lawyer who
is
> > appealing her deportation. Her son, Hassan was moved back from the
airport
> > to Vancouver detention. Both of them appeared at an immigration hearing
on
> > Wednesday, January 22nd but no decision was made.
> > Another hearing is scheduled for Thursday, January 23rd at 2:30pm at the
> > detention centre at 300 W. Georgia in Library Square, Downtown
Vancouver.
> > Immigration Canada is continuing with their intimidation tactics; they
> > informed Kobra and Hassan?s family that they should bring "all of their
> > belongings" to the airport on Thursday, insinuating that the two will be
> > deported at that time.
> > Kobra and Hassan?s deportation has been delayed, but it has not yet been
> > stopped. Because of Kobra?s escape from the clutches of immigration on
> > Tuesday, they have been awarded another hearing and there is a chance
for
> > legal appeal but we must publicly demand, "Stop the Deportation!"
> > Telephone Rob Johnson at Immigration Canada at 604-666-5946, and/or
email
> > the Minister of Immigration, Denis Coderre at minister at cic.gc.ca  to
> > demand they stop the deportation. Fire This Time will post further
updates
> > on the situation and any future actions.
> >
> > Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice
> > info at fire-this-time.org
> > http://www.fire-this-time.org
> > (604)322-1764
> > PO Box 21607
> > Vancouver BC
> > V5N 5T5
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________________
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> >
>
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