Judge To Make Decision Monday In Case Of Banned Brit MP
Posted March 29, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Toronto group is rallying behind a British MP banned from entering the country and lawyers are working to have the order overturned.
Both events took place at a downtown courthouse Sunday.
George Galloway sits as an Independent in Parliament and is on a four-city speaking tour. The only problem is one of those cities is ours, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada has barred the outspoken politician from even setting foot on our soil.
Galloway is accused of engaging in terrorism and of being a member of a group that engaged in terrorism.
The charges apparently stem from his recent trip to Gaza, where he delivered humanitarian aid. Galloway also gave $45,000 to Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the Canadian government.
Members of the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War gathered outside Federal Court, 180 Queen St West, for an 11am rally Sunday.
Lawyer Barbara Jackman is hoping to overturn the ban put in place by Minister Jason Kenney. Jackman called the ban arbitrary. Justice Luc Martineau will announce his decision Monday.
Trade union and student union leaders, professionals, and peace campaigners were among those who submitted affidavits calling for Kenney’s ban on the British parliamentarian to be overturned.
Two prominent Jewish organizations, B’nai Brith Canada and the Canadian Jewish Congress, have applauded banning Galloway from entering the country.
Galloway’s tour is slated to begin Monday.
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Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (R) and Galloway, March 10, 2009 in Gaza City, the Gaza strip. Photo by Muhammad Alostaz/PPMO via Getty Images.
