Algerians Protest Impending Deportation From Canada

By Yahya Abdul Rahman

Montreal, June 4, 2002 - For the fifth week in a row 100 Algerians and their well wishers demonstrated outside the Guy Favreau Complex in Montreal on Monday June 3rd in protest over the impending deportation of close to 1000 Algerians from Canada after the recent lifting of Canada's moratorium on Algerian deportations. 

On April 5th, Denis Coderre, Canada's Minister of Immigration, lifted the moratorium on the deportations of Algerians back to their homeland. Non status Sudanese, Afghani and Burundi nationals are also included in the lifting of the moratorium on deportations.

The moratorium, which has been in place since 1997, protected Algerians who were not recognized as refugees by Canada but who were permitted to remain on Canadian soil due to the extreme violence in Algeria.

Although the Canadian government says it is safe for the Algerians to return to their country, a February report from Amnesty International entitled “Algeria: 10 years of state of emergency, 10 years of grave human rights abuses,” stated that:  “Human rights violations in Algeria have become institutionalized. In the last year alone, more than 80 civilians were unlawfully killed by the security forces and dozens more tortured or held for varying periods of time in secret detention. Some 200 people continue to die every month as a result of the continuing decade-long armed conflict. The level of killing has remained largely unchanged since early 1999. Many are civilians, including women and children, killed in targeted and indiscriminate attacks by armed groups.”

"Basic human rights can not continue to be sacrificed on the alter of national security," the Amnesty report further read.

The Canadian government has also stated that there is no danger of sending Algerians to the US, but according to Amnesty International, Algerians deported to the US are automatically imprisoned by the US authorities.

The demonstrators called for the reinstatement of the moratorium as they felt fearful for their safety if they are returned to their war torn country and, in addition, demanded that Canada grant them landed immigration status.

Algerians who took advantage of this moratorium and remained here did not and still do not have official refugee or landed immigration status. Many of them have been here as long as 8 years, with the average time of stay being 4 years.

But even though they have been legally entitled to remain in Canada their rights have been very restricted, as they have no right to health insurance, a minimum $150 expense for annual work permit renewal, no right to study if they have a work permit, their Canadian born children have no right to family benefits, and they have no right to receive loans and scholarships, etc). This is in spite of the fact that the majority of them are employed and have contributed to the economy of Canada by paying taxes like ordinary citizens, and who have integrated into mainstream society and, as they stated in a press release, "feel they are very much part of it." The Canadian born children will also be deported with the lifting of the moratorium.

When asked if the Canadian government’s decision had anything to do with the September 11^th attack on the world trade center, spokesperson Cherfi Mohammad, who himself is slated for deportation, responded “yes, there is a direct link between the lifting of the moratorium and post September 11^th hysteria, proof of which can be found in the new immigration laws after September 11^th, which comes into force on June 28^th.”

When asked what the Canadian government reaction has been to their demands, Mohammad stated that : “Immigration Minister Coderre is oblivious to their pleas and has maintained the government line of response. “

“A small delegation of us met with Minister Coderre last week,” said Mohammad, “but it has had no effect at all.”

When asked what kind of support they have received from the Arab and Muslim community here, Muhammad stated that no support has been given, but that they more interested in support from the wider society.

“Since September 11^th people in the Arab and Muslim communities are justifiably fearful to speak out,” stated Muhammad.

AbdurRahman and Murad who gave only their first names, are brothers and have been in Canada for close to 2 years, They are both slated for deportation, and they stated that they not understand why the moratorium was being lifted.

“It is dangerous for people who are being deported,” they said.

“There is still war going on and a lot of deaths and it is a very fearful situation to be in,” they said.

“Our lives are at risk,” they further stated.

Bita Eslami, an activist with the group “No One Is Illegal”, an organization set up after September 11^th to act as advocates for immigrants and refugees, stated: “We are here in solidarity with the Algerian people and want to let them know that we have access to networks of activists and resources and are asking them how we can help them.”

Eslami said her group is working on organizing an information session so that the issue will get greater exposure in the activist community here in Montreal.

“The irony of this case is that Canada’s tourism website says that it is unsafe for Canadians to travel to Algeria. So why is it safe for Algerians to travel there? Whose blood is worth more?” asked Eslami.

In  their press statement, Comite d”Action des Sans Statut (The Action Committee on Non-Status), the name of the group set up to protest the lifting of the moratorium, stated that  "Minister Coderre's decision is purely political and aims to defend and promote the economic interests of the elite who want open borders for business in Algeria, without considering that it also facilitates the deportation of non-status people to a country where demonstrators are assassinated, where children are disembowelled, and where they torture with impunity."

"It is shameful that a country which prides itself with pretty speeches on human rights and pompously brags about being the best country in world accepts that thousands of people be sent to the gallows in order for a small handful of Canadian and Algerian capitalists to prosper politically and economically," the statement further read.

"We request from our fellow citizens Quebecois to support our demands, in cafes or family discussions and workplaces," their statement read.

"By taking a position and speaking out we can change things. We know that it is the people that have welcomed us with open arms and not the government that merely uses us like small change," the group further stated.

The group plans to continue with their demonstrations every Monday at Guy Favreau Complex, 200 Rene-Levesque bvld, beginning at 4:00PM. They can be reached via e-mail at cassdz@hotmail.com or by phone at 514-382-0735.

Source: www.montrealmuslimnews.net