[van-discuss] POLITICAL CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF BILQUIS AND IMRAN

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MASSIVE PRESSURE CAMPAIGN!!!
CONTACT MEMBERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

JUSTICE FOR BILQUIS, IMRAN AND ALL PAKISTANI REFUGEES!!!


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

Thank you to the hundreds of supporters and allies who have previously 
written to Minister Coderre in support of Bilquis and Imran and all the 
Pakistani refugees. Supporters and the lawyer working on this case have 
received a response from Minister Coderre saying he will not intervene in 
this case.

Two weeks ago a Bloc Quebecois MP visited the family in detention and 
subsequently spoke with the Minister, who apparently responded that the 
family are too much of a burden on the Canadian economy. This Bloc MP, 
Madeline Dalphond-Guiral, has been pressuring Minister Coderre to intervene 
in the case and stop the detention and deportation of Bilquis and Imran. To 
those in the Montreal area, please contact her to urge her to continue her 
work in pressuring Minister Coderre and encourage her continued 
intervention. (Phone 450 686-2562 / Email: mdg at bloclc.qc.ca, 
dalphm at parl.gc.ca )

In order to increase public pressure on Minister Coderre to intervene in the 
case of Bilquis and Imran, we urge all supporters to contact Liberal Party 
MP’s, stating your support for Bilquis and Imran, demanding an end to their 
detention and deportation,  and urging them to pressure Minister Coderre 
from within their party caucus. (Parliament resumes on Septemeber 15th 2003)

In particular to those in the Toronto Area, Liberal Party MP Caroline 
Parrish from Mississauga (Phone:613-995-7321 and 905-897-1952) has expressed 
her support for the case of Bilquis and Imran. Please contact her to urge 
her to continue pressuring Minister Coderre and express your support for her 
intervention.

The list of all Liberal Party Mps and their contacts can be found at 
www.liberal.ca/lpc/mp.aspx?site=mp

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 URGENTLY fax/email/ call Minster 
Coderre AND Party MPs this coming week and please forward this message as 
far and wide as possible.

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 AND LIBERAL PARTY

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.

* René D'Aoust, director of Investigations and Removals: (514) 496-1238

* The list of all Liberal Party Mps and their contacts can be found at 
www.liberal.ca/lpc/mp.aspx?site=mp

* 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 13, 2003

Honorable :

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 are 
being held in the Laval Detention Centre in Montreal and will be deported 
back to either Pakistan or the United States in the coming days.

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.

Bilquis and Imran faced two detention review hearings in the past two 
months. During both hearings they were refused release from detention as IRB 
judges were claiming that Bilquis was a flight risk since she is unwilling 
to be deported back to Pakistan or the US, a catch-22 situation. If deported 
to Pakistan, she has well-founded fears for her and her son’s life. If 
deported to the US, she will surely be put into detention without concern 
for her medical condition.

At her hearing, claims were also made that since too much money, time, and 
manpower had gone into processing this case, the decision would not be 
reversed. I find it deplorable that a family, in particular an elderly 
womans’, right to dignity and a livelihood is being overshadowed by concerns 
for bureaucratic efficiency.

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. I urge you to intervene 
in the case of Bilquis and demonstrate a commitment to values of compassion 
and dignity. Bilquis’ medical condition is worsening and the worst can be 
expected if this removal is carried through. On these grounds, Minister 
Coderre should intervene to postpone the deportation date, and immediately 
stay the deportation order.

Sincerely,

_________________________________________________________________

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