Canada giving aid to Montreal man in Sudan: Bernier
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 | 10:55 PM ET
CBC News
Abousfian Abdelrazik's family says he is not a terrorist. (CBC)A Montreal man stuck in Sudan — due to allegations of links to al-Qaeda — will get all the aid he needs while Ottawa examines his case, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said Wednesday.
Abousfian Abdelrazik, a dual citizen of Canada and Sudan, was detained in Sudan in 2003 while visiting his mother and spent close to two years in prison there. He hasn't been allowed to return to Canada because his name is on a no-fly list.
Abdelrazik took temporary refuge in the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum on Monday, saying allegations of al-Qaeda links have put his life at risk.
His family members have publicly pleaded with Ottawa to bring him home, saying he's not a terrorist.
"We are examining Mr. Abdelrazik's case, but I can tell you that we are providing consular services to him and any aid that can be provided, including humanitarian and medical aid," Bernier said Monday.
Abdelrazik hasn't been charged with anything in Canada or Sudan, but his lawyer has said the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) suspects him of having links to al-Qaeda.
Bernier said Abdelrazik is on a United Nations watch list.
"Mr. Abdelrazik is not able to return by his own means because he is on the United Nations list of presumed terrorists and he is suspected of being affiliated with the Taliban or with [al-Qaeda leader Osama] Bin Laden," said Bernier.
Canadian officials are ensuring Abdelrazik can speak with his family in Montreal and his lawyers, said Bernier.
NDP MP Paul Dewar said because Abdelrazik hasn't been charged with anything, Ottawa should bring him to Canada to face any allegations.
"As a Canadian citizen, he is entitled to return to Canada and to due process," said Dewar.
Abdelrazik's lawyer says Ottawa has ignored Sudan's offers to fly him back to Canada on its own airline. He also said Ottawa could also immediately issue Abdelrazik an emergency passport — his previous one having expired — and send him back to the country on their own government aircraft, but that the process has become convoluted.
Corrections and Clarifications
- MP Paul Dewar is not a Liberal, as originally reported. He is a New Democrat. (April 30, 2008 | 11:05 PM ET)
