|
Canadian Press
Thursday, September 25, 2003
MONTREAL
-- A coalition of social groups accused Canada Thursday of turning its back on dozens of Palestinian
refugees facing deportation to their homeland.
The coalition, which is planning a series of
demonstrations to press its case, said the refugees will face poverty,
instability and Israeli-sponsored violence if they're sent home.
Most of the 100 refugees facing deportation
are young men who live in Montreal, the coalition said.
The coalition told a news conference about 20
of the refugees have already received deportation orders and another five have
been sent back.
"They continue to suffer after living
their entire lives under (Israeli) military occupation,'' said Rabie Masri of
the Coalition against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees.
"These are people who fled the daily
persecution that exists in the occupied territories. They fled the daily fear
of being killed. They fled difficult living conditions in terms of health,
freedom of movement.''
Coalition members accused the Immigration and
Refugee Board of refusing to take Middle
East violence into account when ruling
on the validity of Palestinian refugee claims.
They added none of the 100 refugees was found
to be a security threat and simply want to make a living in Canada.
The coalition includes about 40 unions, women'
groups and Palestinian-rights organizations. They're planning a demonstration
on downtown streets Saturday to push the federal government to halt the
deportations.
© Copyright 2003 Canadian
Press
Top
|
