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for Abdelrazik

Listen to an audio statement from Abousfian Abdelrazik on April 1st, 2009 by clicking the play button below. You can download the MP3 here.

Parliamentary Support

The following members of Parliament and political parties have endorsed this statement:

The UN Security Council imposes an asset freeze and an international travel ban on individuals whose names have been placed on its “1267 List”. The listing and delisting processes do not meet standards of procedural fairness or of natural justice fundamental to the rule of law. The 1267 Regime and the “Al Qaeda and Taliban Regulations” - which implement the 1267 Regime in Canada - violate rights to liberty, security and freedom of association.

The RCMP and CSIS cleared Abousfian Abdelrazik of any criminal activity in November 2007. On this basis, the Canadian government supported Mr. Abdelrazik's request to be removed from the 1267 List.

For these reasons, I call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to 1) lift sanctions from Mr. Abdelrazik in Canada (as was done in the case of another Canadian citizen, Mr. Liban Hussein, in 2002); 2) contact the embassies of all United Nations Security Council members to inform them that Mr. Abdelrazik’s removal from the 1267 List is a diplomatic priority for Canada; and 3) revoke the unconstitutional “Al Qaeda and Taliban Regulations”, which were established by Order-in-Council.

"The UN blacklist is just not acceptable; it doesn't withstand any test of due process."

Bob Rae (Liberal foreign affairs critic)
3 February 2010 - Globe and Mail

Paul Dewar, the NDP MP who championed Mr. Abdelrazik's right to return, says his predicament underscores the arbitrary unfairness of the UN 1267 blacklist:

"It's time to take out measures that undermine human rights [...] given Canada's painful experience with 1267, we could have a positive role in reforming the system."

Paul Dewar (NDP MP)
3 February 2010 - Globe and Mail