Matthew Behrens

Matthew Behrens is a freelance writer and social justice advocate who coordinates the Homes not Bombs non-violent direct action network. His column "Taking Liberties" examines connections between national security and civil liberties. Behrens has worked closely with the targets of Canadian and U.S. "national security" profiling for many years.

Columnists

Feb 26, 2021

The hypocrisy of Canada's genocide declarations

Matthew Behrens

While many Liberals did vote to support the genocide motion introduced this week, any subsequent commitment to assisting Uyghur refugees and taking actions on Chinese repression appear elusive.

Columnists

Feb 19, 2021

When white supremacist governments proclaim themselves anti-racist allies

Matthew Behrens

Traditional opponents of draconian anti-terrorism instruments suddenly threw their support behind these measures when they were applied to the racist Proud Boys and other white supremacist groups.

Columnists

Jan 29, 2021

Inaugural delusions and the 30-year war against Iraq

Matthew Behrens

Joe Biden's inauguration overlapped with a grim anniversary: the start of the Iraq war, a conveniently forgotten backdrop on a day of U.S. democratic triumphalism.

Columnists

Nov 30, 2020

Draconian sentence of abuse survivor reveals courts' disconnection from reality

Matthew Behrens

Helen Naslund is paying a steep price for our collective failure to protect her from male violence.

Columnists

Oct 26, 2020

Advocates urge Canadian intervention in U.S. case of detained Cameroonian refugee

Matthew Behrens

"Kenneth" has a scheduled risk assessment with the Canadian Border Services Agency on October 30. But there are concerns that U.S. officials won't transfer him from ICE detention.

Columnists

Sep 28, 2020

Canada has a war crimes problem

Matthew Behrens

Two new reports on Canadian weapons exports reveal that Canadian-based corporate entities are complicit in the commission of war crimes in Yemen, Turkey, Libya, Syria and Iraq.

Columnists

Aug 25, 2020

Pushing for status for all as Ottawa ramps up deportations

Matthew Behrens

As government officials dismiss their legal obligations to asylum seekers, it falls to the rest of us to ensure an end to warehousing, hunting and deportations.

Columnists

Jul 20, 2020

Federal Court furious with CSIS iIlegality and lies

Matthew Behrens

Instead of an external review, a full public inquiry into the crimes of CSIS designed by those who have suffered from the agency's practices is a more fitting approach.

Columnists

Jun 24, 2020

Canada's slow-drip torture of refugee Mohamed Harkat

Matthew Behrens

Later this week, human rights groups and individuals will mark the June 26 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture with an online writing and call-in event.

Columnists

May 25, 2020

Canada continues to put refugee lives in danger

Matthew Behrens

Canada's armed forces continue to participate in actions designed to make it harder for refugees to reach asylum. Could we imagine an unarmed sea force that instead works to help those in distress?

Matthew Behrens

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