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

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?

Columnists

Apr 29, 2020

The terrorism of stalking and the futility of resilience

Matthew Behrens

As beneficiaries of a system that constantly produces stories of violence against women, men need to do far more to confront increasingly weaponized misogyny.

Columnists

Apr 21, 2020

Rejecting the death instinct in a pandemic age

Matthew Behrens

Expressions of creativity and the thousands of mutual aid groups that have sprung up in communities during this crisis remind us of what it means to be human. All represent what we can and should be.

Columnists

Feb 28, 2020

The virus 'threatening' Canada starts with a D, not a C

Matthew Behrens

Modest-sized groups acting in solidarity have illustrated how fragile the Canadian state actually is, a lesson that, once learned, cannot be unlearned.

Columnists

Jan 29, 2020

Why is Canada still deporting Roma people to persecution?

Matthew Behrens

Ottawa Roma refugee Celina Urbanowicz received a deportation order last year after living in Canada for 23 years. She faces violence and persecution if she is forced to leave the country.

Matthew Behrens

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