Who is currently in sanctuary?

Contrary to what the Canadian government would like us to believe, churches do not offer sanctuary to just anybody who requests it and they do not want to spread the movement. Cases are thoroughly evaluated and accepted only if there is a serious threat to the refugee's life or security and there is no other possible solution.

In 2004, there were 5 families (or individuals) in sanctuary in Canada. Some of them remained in sanctuary for more than a year! There is still one unresolved case.

• A Colombian family has been in St. Andrew's-Norwood United Church in St-Laurent since 17 July 2003 (a couple with their daughter). The father was an outspoken labour and environmental rights advocate in Colombia and bears visible signs of torture. CASE RESOLVED IN FEBRUARY 2005.

• A family has been in Union United Church in Montreal since 5 August 2003 (a mother with her 3 children). The three children, ages 7, 13 and 14 are now facing their second year out of school. CASE RESOLVED DEC 13, 2004 BY MINISTER SGRO'S INTERVENTION.

• Three elderly Palestinians are in Notre Dame de Grace Roman Catholic Church in Montreal. They fled life in a refugee camp in Lebanon. Like all Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, they faced systematic discrimination and denial of rights. They are stateless. The Immigration and Refugee Board agreed they faced persecution in their camp, but said they should have tried another refugee camp rather than come to Canada. CASE RESOLVED IN MARCH 2005.

• A 49 year-old man from Bangladesh is in First Unitarian Church in Ottawa. He suffered physical abuse at the hands of his government's officials. Amnesty International has intervened in his case and states that his security would be endangered if he were returned to Bangladesh. CASE RESOLVED DEC 13, 2004 BY MINISTER SGRO'S INTERVENTION.

• An Iranian man is in St. Michael's Anglican Church in Vancouver He was imprisoned and tortured in Iran. His mother has actually been accepted as a refugee in Canada, even though their fear of persecution is based on the same situation: the husband/father was an outspoken leader of an Iranian opposition party. In addition, the son has undergone a religious conversion which adds to the risks he faces in Iran .

Had there been a right of appeal available in any of these cases, the errors made could have been corrected and the need for sanctuary avoided.

We do not mention names or show pictures because these people fear for their lives if they should ultimately be sent back to their home countries.

And let us not forget Mohamed Cherfi, from Algeria, who was in sanctuary at a Quebec City church and was forcibly removed and deported to the United States. This is the only known case of a violation of sanctuary by the Canadian government.

Mr. Cherfi has been held in detention in the U.S. since his deportation. An attempt is being made to secure his return to Canada through a collective sponsorship organized by the church where he was in sanctuary. However, it is not known if this will be processed in time to avoid his deportation from the U.S. to Algeria.