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CANADA: Demand an apology for Abousfian Abdelrazik
Abousfian Abdelrazik, pictured here in a family photo, greeted a crowd of media and supporters at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on 27 June 2009. The Federal Court of Canada had ordered the return of this dual Canadian-Sudanese citizen and the government reluctantly agreed to fly him back from Sudan.
You might say that Mr Abdelrazik’s journey took six long years. His saga has raised troubling questions about the role that Canadian officials have played in his arrest, detention and alleged ill-treatment, and the subsequent obstruction of his right to return to Canada.
Let’s go back to March 2003. Abousfian Abdelrazik left his home in Montreal to visit his mother in Khartoum, Sudan. By December, authorities there had detained him, reportedly tortured him, and accused him of connections to terrorism. We later learned that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had requested his detention in Sudan.
After being released and declared innocent by the Sudanese authorities, he was nonetheless designated a “terrorist” by the United States and placed on the United Nations 1267 List (the UN no-fly list). Both the RCMP and CSIS cleared him of any charges in 2007, but the Canadian government would not permit his return to Canada, and Mr Abdelrazik remained stranded in Sudan. The Canadian government broke many of its promises to provide new travel documents. Finally, it claimed that Mr Abdelrazik must arrange to have his own name removed from the UN list despite a specific exemption allowing for nationals to return home.
Governments have not only the right, but the responsibility to respond to concerns about terrorism and to protect their citizens. However, any government actions must conform to international human rights law, including protection against torture, unlawful arrest, and detention.
Both Mr Abdelrazik and the Canadian public deserve answers about what happened to him and who was responsible.
Please write to Canada’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Public Safety.
- Describe who you are.
- Ask the Ministers to explain why Abousfian Abdelrazik was detained and why it took so long for the government to facilitate his return to Canada.
- Urge the Canadian government to apologize to him, to compensate him, and to help Mr Abdelrazik get his name off the United Nations 1267 List.
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Start your letter: Dear Minister
Postage: Free within Canada
Fax: (613) 992 7559
Email: CannoL@parl.gc.ca
The Honourable Peter Van Loan
Minister of Public Safety
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Start your letter: Dear Minister
Postage: Free within Canada
Fax: (613) 992 8351
Email: VanLoP@parl.gc.ca
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 9:
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 10:
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an
independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Hi I would definetly like to see someone stand up and face the music on this tradgic case.How unfair can we be as canadians to pick and choose who gets to be treated like a true canadian.Please if anything give this poor man an apology.
Hello, I´ve just written the letters of appeal on this case and I sincerely hope that Mr. Abdelrazik will be compensated for this, that he will receive the apologies he so urgently deserves and that his name will be erased from that list. Please, write you too. The more letters the ministers receive, the higher the likelihood that this case will get the attention it deserves. Thanks in advance.
I’m sending this comment to say that I have emailed the two Ministers on Abousfian Abdelrazik’s behalf. As has been suggested, try and write the letters in your own words as these letters carry more weight than if they seem to be just a form type of letter. Those kind get brushed off far more easily.
I am writing on behalf of Mr. Abdelrazik. I think that it is imperative that the Minister and our government, in our names, the Canadian citizens, not only apologize and compensate him for his dilema. But to remove his name from the list, so he can continue to live his life with dignity, as we all have the right to. The treatment of Mr. Abdelrazik
is shameful and disgusting. It is time to right a wrong!!!
This is completly unfair, and makes no sense. The government should apologize to him for what they did to his life.
My heart went out to Mr. Abdelrazik as I kept hearing report after report of his mistreatment.It is a tragedy. Imagine six years being taken out of your life–separated from family, friends and country–knowing you are innocent, and your government not there to help you. The Canadian government has acted shamefully….
I am glad to be able to do something by writing the letters to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Public Safety. Hopefully mnay others will do the same and some positive action will result.
May Mr. Abdelrazik be compensated for the suffering he has endured over these past many years.