Press releases

Press Conference on Monday, February 14 for the Liberation of the Vega Family after 19 Months in Sanctuary

Montreal , February 13, 2005 – XXX, XXX and XXX XXX are free at long last. The Colombian couple and their daughter, who have been in Sanctuary in Montreal's St. Andrew's-Norwood United Church since July 17, 2003, have received a positive decision from Immigration Canada on their application for permanent residence based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. They can now leave the church basement that has been their home, without fear of deportation to Colombia.

Rev. Rosemary Lambie-Bromby of the United Church expressed her delight with this decision, noting however that it is "very unfortunate that the family had to be in sanctuary 567 days before the cries of the people were taken seriously".

This is the second of three Montreal sanctuary cases to be resolved recently, following the release of the Ayele family in December 2004. Though the XXX, along with their supporters, celebrate their newfound freedom, they hope for a similar resolution to the case of the XXX family of three elderly Palestinians, living in sanctuary in an NDG Roman Catholic Church for the past year.

The Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition also calls for the immediate return to Canada of Mohamed Cherfi, who was forcibly removed from sanctuary in a Quebec City church and handed over to U.S. authorities last year. Mr. Cherfi is awaiting final approval of a group sponsorship which would allow him to return to Canada. If it is not approved immediately, he could face deportation to Algeria - where he faces the risk of torture - any time after February 15 th . This was the first case ever in which Canadian officials violated the principle of sanctuary.

A press conference will be held at St. Andrew's-Norwood United Church, 1600 de l'Eglise (corner Cardinal), Ville St-Laurent, on Monday, February 14th at 10:30am. The XXX, their lawyer Noël St-Pierre (who also represents Mohamed Cherfi), and Rev. Lambie-Bromby will acknowledge the just decision of Immigration Canada, and thank the members of the St. Andrew's-Norwood United Church congregation and all the members of the community who have supported the campaign. They will be joined at the press conference by other speakers from the Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition.

The Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition is an umbrella group of more than 40 church, human rights, labour, refugee and other groups as well as individuals that have come together to support the individuals and families currently in sanctuary in Canada. The Coalition also supports the implementation of a right of appeal for refused refugee claimants so that decision-making errors can be corrected without the need for sanctuary.

XXX: some words and all names have been removed from the original for safety reasons.

* * *

Previous releases

Dec. 14, 2004: The Coalition congratulates Immigration Minister
Oct. 21, 2004: Closing event of sanctuary week
Oct. 13, 2004: Second Year in Sanctuary Intolerable