March 28, 2003
ME STAND ON GUARD FOR ME:
Deporting a woman to torture? (Uwe Siemon-Netto, 3/24/2003, UPI)Has Canada indirectly condemned an Iranian woman to be persecuted, tortured or even killed because of her conversion from Islam to Christianity?The Canadian authorities ordering her deportation back to her homeland on April 24 do not believe this will happen in Iran, even though the U.S. State Department declared last year: "The (Iranian) government does not ensure the right of citizens to change or renounce their religious faith. Apostasy, specifically conversion from Islam, can be punishable by death."
Sylvie Duval, examiner for the Canadian Government's Pre-Removal Risk Assessment, denied that a nurse from Tehran seeking asylum in Montreal would face much peril if sent home.
"There is no serious reason to believe that her life would be endangered or that she might fall victim to torture or other cruel punishments," Duval concluded in a 15-page summary. This differed significantly from the view on which U.S. immigration appeals boards base their decisions in similar cases.
Attorney Patti Lyman, who handles asylum cases for Just Law International, a Virginia-based firm, told United Press International Monday of Board of Immigration Appeals decisions stating that a convert to Christianity "is more likely than not to be persecuted in Iran."
"By definition, a Muslim convert (to Christianity) meets the standard convention against torture and will more likely than not be subjected to torture," she added.
Since it doesn't affect the National Health service, Canadians don't care, eh? At least American conservatives fought to keep Elian Gonzales here. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 28, 2003 6:17 PM
Will somebody puleeese start a boycott of Canada. Canadians have fallen under the same socialist spell as those European wanks and we desperately need a regime change here. The only way it's going to happen is if our economy tanks. HINT! 85 percent of our exports go to the USA and the vast majority of our tourists are Americans (I know, we have a funny way of showing our appreciation). This would be an easy and bloodless coup for you guys and unlike Iraqis, Canadians won't fight back.
Posted by: fourthcolumnist at March 28, 2003 7:09 PMThe old "Mouse That Roared" trick, eh? Well, we're wise to that. We're not gonna rescue Canada so easily. We have other, more dangerous enemies to rescue first.
Posted by: Paul Jaminet at March 28, 2003 7:27 PMOnce again on behalf of all Canadians I apologize.
Posted by: Steve Martinovich at March 28, 2003 7:32 PMSteve:
To the people of Canada we say: The hour of your liberation approaches. :)
Well, why don't we offer the woman asylum
here from Canada?
That would be humane and just, and therefore
American, and would be one in the eye for
the immigration judges in BC now hearing appeals
from California stoners for asylum from the US.
We could give it a snappy name: The Hull
Doctrine (Cordell and Bobby and Isaac)
Excellent idea! I'm going to write my Senators.
Posted by: oj at March 29, 2003 5:46 AMIf this woman would just threaten to kill Americans, or claim that she's escaping from a regime that would hand her over to the US and try her for capital crimes, then Canada would welcome her.
As for boycotts-- all we need to do is treat the northern border the same as the southern one, and watch what happens to an economy dependent on trade with its only neighbor. If they want act like Mexico, then let's treat 'em like a Northern Mexico.
But if you really want to hurt Canadians, that would be to ban their RVs from going to Florida from November through March.