chuma.org

CBC News: Canadian freed from Syrian jail set to arrive in Montreal: Here’s the short form of the story:

• Canadian citizen (of Syrian origin) visits Tunisia.
• Returns to Canada by way of New York (huge N. American air hub)
• US authorities suspect he might be a mamber of al-Qaeda. Evidence or reasons given: he knew a man in Ottawa who was suspected of having links to al-Qaeda. However, the RCMP had already questioned him months before he travelled and said that he was OK.
• Unfortunately, the person in question had not renounced his Syrian citizenship, and even though he holds Canadian citizenship for over 15 years and was travelling on a Canadian passport, they deport him to Syria.
• The USA does not inform Canada that they have deported him to his country of birth until after the fact, and he was listed as a missing person for almost a month.
• Because he left Syria before serving mandatory military service there, he could have been charged, tried and convicted of being a deserter. Furthermore, Syria’s human rights record with regards to prisoners is… bad.
• Instead, they just hold him in custody, and finally Canadian officials negotiate his release.

Dear US Immigration: No one gives you the right to screw around with the citizens of other countries.