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Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees

 

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November 24, 2004

The Right Honourable Paul Martin
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons,
Ottawa ON   K1A 0A6

Dear Prime Minister,

Last week I stood together with representatives of Canada ’s Arab and Muslim communities and Parliamentarians from all political parties, including my leader Jack Layton,  and witnessed your specific promise that the Canadian government will begin to protect Palestinian refugees here in Canada .

Your promise appears to have lasted one week. Last night, a stateless Palestinian refugee was arrested and is facing deportation to the United States and ultimately to Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in south Lebanon .

Conditions at Ein el-Hilweh  refugee camp are deplorable. Already high unemployment rates are increasing due to the banning of Palestinians from an increasing number of professions within the Lebanese workforce. Poverty is rampant, and restrictions on new constructions within the camp have resulted in families living in unacceptably poor housing conditions.

Canada is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. For Canada to deport a stateless person who will be returned to such conditions is an unacceptable violation of this Convention, and a clear contradiction of your promise to Canada ’s Arab and Muslim communities made just one week ago.

I urge you to take immediate action to ensure that a stay of removal is issued for Mr. Nafaa, and that no further deportation orders are issued against stateless Palestinians in Canada .

Sincerely,

ORIGINAL SIGNED BY

Alexa McDonough, MP Halifax
NDP Foreign Affairs Critic

 

Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees

2003-2005

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