A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Monreal, Nov, noone is illegal (series events) |
|---|
| amatullah |
| 11/13/03 at 17:40:15 |
| *** DATE CHANGE: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WOMEN'S COMMITTEE EVENT HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM NOV 20 TO FRIDAY NOV 21. PLEASE POST WIDELY* JUSTICE FOR ALL PAKISTANI REFUGEES AN END TO DEPORTATIONS AND DETENTIONS!!! <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> A SERIES OF EVENTS: 1) DISCUSSION WITH WOMENS COMMITTEE 2) PUBLIC PANEL 3) MARCH LED BY WOMENS COMMITTEE * See below for details <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> In Montreal there are over 200 Pakistani refugees facing deportation in the coming weeks and months. Since September 11th, they have systematically been rejected by the IRB judges, a rejection rate of approximately 70%, with the grounds for rejection being that the situation in Pakistan for these refugees has improved despite IRB’s own contrary human rights reports and reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The Action Committee and its supporters have recently been involved in campaigns to stop the deportations of the Ibad family and Ali Naqvi The Ibad family and Ali were both deported to the US in October. They are sorely missed. Before his deportation, Ali wanted to pass along a message to all allies: “the demands for all the Pakistanis in general, are all in accordance with our desires and wishes. Hopefully, action committee with your support and efforts will achieve their target for justice. The fight is on. I think we should emphasize the IRB treatment in dealing with refugee cases. A single person's decision should not be allowed to ruin somebody's life.” This is an extremely urgent situation. The Pakistani refugee community is the largest refugee community in Montreal and is one of the most targeted by post 9/11 measures. Hundreds of refugees are facing imminent deportation. Amongst those facing deportation, Farzana and her family are being deported on November 25th. Farzana, Asif and their one year old Canadian daughter Asra have been in Montreal for over one year. Asif was a very active member of the Pakistan Peoples Party and over the past few years, his role in campaigning led to serious attacks on the family, including an incident of firing into their house which resulted in Farzana’s miscarriage. They remained in hiding in Pakistan for close to one year, before an agent arranged for their passage to the US. Due to escalating death threats, they were forced to leave Pakistan without their elder daughter, whom the agent was unable to make arrangements for immediately, but promised to bring her over within two weeks. He never did and now they are struggling to reunite with their daughter, who remains in hiding with extended family members, while struggling to remain in a country where they can live in peace. We urge all supporters to attend and support upcoming events to ensure that no more deportations take place. This struggle can only be won if we continue to fight and support those affected. In Solidarity, Action Committee of Pakistanis, No One is Illegal Montreal, REBELdesis nooneisillegal@tao.ca/ 514-812-0858, 244-2461 ************************************************************************ * date change: from Thursday Nov 20 to Friday Nov 21 INFORMAL DISCUSSION WITH WOMENS COMMITTEE Friday November 21 @ 7pm Dragonroot Center for Gender Advocacy 2110 mackay, metro guy This is an informal space and an invitation for womyn, particularly those from women’s organizations, to come listen to and lend tangible support to the struggle of the Womens Committee of Pakistani Refugees. *********************************************************** PUBLIC PANEL This panel is to raise greater public awareness about the situation of these Pakistani refugees and the political situation in Pakistan and in Canada. <><><><><><><><><> Sunday, November 23 @ 6:30 pm Atwater Library (1200 Atwater) Metro Atwater <><><><><><><><><>< Speakers: * Former Reporter of Dawn (Pakistan’s largest English daily) and current Editor of Canada’s Asian Newspaper: TBC * Members of the Womens Committee of Pakistani Refugees * Jaggi Singh: No One is Illegal * Ali Hasanie: Action Committee of Pakistani Refugees * Sarwat Viqar: South Asian Womens Community Center ************************************************************** RALLY FOR JUSTICE !!! MARCH LED BY WOMENS COMMITTEE OF PAKISTANI REFUGEES November 24 @ 11 am Immigration offices, Complex Guy-Favreau 200 Rene Levesque West (Metro Place des Arts) *bring banners and noisemakers. this is a child-friendly march. All welcome.* On the eve of the International day against Violence against Women, this march is being called by and will be led by women and children of the Action Committee of Pakistani Refugees. This march will highlight the particular struggles of women affected by political strife. This march is opposed to displacement in Pakistan and in Canada and calls upon Immigration Canada to end all detention and deportations of Pakistani refugees and to grant all refugees regularized status. The Womens Committee urges all allies, particularly other women’s groups, to march with them and to support their demands. Farzana, facing deportation on November 25th calls upon supporters to demand justice for her family and her Canadian child. No Justice, No Peace! Stop the deportations! For more information, contact Action Committee of Pakistanis, No One is Illegal Montreal. nooneisillegal@tao.ca/ 514-812-0858, 244-2461 |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |