Statement by Official Opposition Leader Nycole Turmel and New Democrat Foreign Affairs Critic Hélène Laverdière on Abousfian Abdelrazik

New Democrats commend the United Nations Security Council for removing Abousfian Abdelrazik from its 1267 list, despite the inaction of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

For years, while Mr. Abdelrazik remained in limbo in Sudan, New Democrats pressured the Conservatives to take up Mr. Abdelrazik’s case, but they refused. Even after being cleared of all links to terrorism, the government has allowed Mr. Abdelrazik to linger on this list. The list freezes assets and prevents travel, making it impossible for him to find a job or receive child support.

The Conservative government was forced to repatriate Mr. Abdelrazik—a Canadian citizen—from Sudan in 2009, after a federal court judge ruled that the Conservatives were violating his Charter rights.

New Democrats are pleased to see that ongoing pressure has finally led to Mr. Abdelrazik’s vindication by the UN.

We call on the government to provide proper consular services to all Canadians – there must be no discrimination when it comes to helping Canadian citizens who experience serious difficulties while abroad.