Location
Abousfian Abdelrazik, like Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati, Muayyed Nureddin and Maher Arar, is one more victim of a Canadian programme of outsourcing torture.
In 2003, on the recommendation of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Sudanese authorities arrested and jailed Abdelrazik while he was on a visit to Sudan. Never charged, Abdelrazik was beaten, threatened and tortured during two periods of detention. In this context, he was questioned by CSIS.
Prevented by the Canadian government from returning home to Canada, he went public with his story and took refuge in the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum, where he remained for more than one year.It took a groundswell from people across Canada, as well legal action, to finally bring about his return and reunion with his children in Montreal on June 27, 2009.
After six harrowing years in exile, Abdelrazik is home -- but his struggle is not over. In 2006, without his knowledge and with no opportunity to respond, Abdelrazik’s name was placed on the UN’s “1267 List”. This Kafka-esque list imposes a travel ban and total asset freeze on listed individuals.
As a result, Abdelrazik is denied access to the basic essentials of life. Canadian regulations implementing List 1267 prohibit anyone from providing Abdelrazik with any material aid - including salary, loans of any amount, food or clothing--even health insurance.
On tour with Project Fly Home, Abdelrazik will speak about his experiences and his on-going struggle for justice, as he seeks to re-establish a normal life in Canada. These community gatherings will be a chance to hear his story, as well as an opportunity to strategize together about how to make real changes to the structures which allowed this to happen.
