[van-discuss] MORE CONTACT INFO: ACT NOW TO STOP THE DEPORATION

[ha rsha]

* Includes email/fax contact info for Minister Coderre and sample letter


PLEASE POST WIDELY---

STOP THE DEPORTATIONS !!!
JUSTICE FOR IBAD FAMILY!!!

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

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RALLY:
1010 ST ANTOINE (IRB offices)
Tuesday October 21, 2003
@ 7:30 am sharp (their deportation is 8 AM)


MASSIVE CALL/FAX CAMPAIGN
FLOOD THE  IRB OFFICES WITH CALLS, EMAILS AND FAXES

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ACT TODAY !

CALL:
*** RENE D’AOUST director of Investigations and Removals: (514) 496-1238 ***

If you are more comfortable not speaking to an immigration official, leave a 
message on the voice mail over the weekend. For those calling during office 
hours, if asked who you are, you can say you are a concerned citizen.

Points to emphasize in your call:
- The demands of the campaign:
1) At least no removal take place to either Pakistan or the US prior to the 
Humanitarian and Compassionate claim being processed in a fair and just 
manner and particularly in light of the recent violence in Islamabad.
2) Further we demand that the family be given full status in Canada on 
humanitarian grounds.
- The recent violence and curfew in Islamabad
- Their children’s education has previously been interrupted while they were 
in hiding, and their deportation will surely impact their education again
- Great danger Naveed faces of being detained in the US.
-The family’s contribution to Canadian society over the past fifteen months.

EMAIL/FAX :
* Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Denis Coderre:
Phone: (613) 957-0312
Fax: (613) 957-2688
Email: Minister at cic.gc.ca

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


October 17, 2003

Honourable Minister Coderre:

I would like to draw your particular attention to the case of the Ibad 
family who is scheduled for deportation on October 21, 2003. The Ibad family 
(Naveed, Assia and their three children) have been in Canada for over 
fifteen months, during which their refugee claim has been refused. All three 
of their children, ages 14, 12 and 9, are in school and speak four languages 
fluently (Urdu, English, French, Punjabi). Naveed is currently working two 
jobs and Assia volunteers in an organization supporting disabled people and 
works night shifts.

One of the allegations made by the IRB is that they should have made claims 
in the United States (their port of entry) instead of Canada, even though 
they are under no legal obligation to do so. Naveed will surely be 
incarcerated in detention upon their removal to the US, before eventually 
being deported back to Pakistan.

Another one of the allegations of the IRB is that they are not convinced 
that the Ibad family and Ali face imminent and grave danger in Pakistan. The 
Ibad family belongs to a religious minority in Pakistan. The family has been 
physically attacked by SSP (a sectarian and extremist organization) on 
several occasions in the past few years and Naveed still carries scars on 
his body from these attacks. Members of their families have died due to 
these attacks. The family was forced into hiding for over 2 years, during 
which time their children were unable to attend school or even play with 
other children. The family face grave danger and persecution, including 
rape, torture, and a certain death if they are forced to return to Pakistan.

The situation in Pakistan is especially heightened now as the head of the 
SSP was recently killed and there have been riots and curfews imposed in the 
capital city of Islamabad. In light of the recent violence and the 
increasingly intensified attacks against minorities, it is deplorable and 
unacceptable that any Pakistani refugee would be returned, particularly to 
Islamabad.

I urge you to please consider their situation and mounting support for their 
case from various church groups, unions, student groups, womens groups, 
media outlets, members of political parties, and community organizations. On 
humanitarian and compassionate grounds, particularly in light of the recent 
violence in Islamabad, you should intervene immediately to allow the family 
the right to remain in Canada and be granted regularized status immediately.

Sincerely,
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