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Iraqi Doctor Refused Canadian Visa - CBC News, July 7, 2005

Iraqi doctor refused Canadian visa
Last Updated Thu, 07 Jul 2005 18:36:04 EDT
CBC News
Canadian officials have denied a visa to allow an outspoken Iraqi critic of the U.S. to visit Ottawa, local peace activists who invited him said.


INDEPTH: Iraq

The Canadian Peace Alliance invited Dr. Salam Ismael, 29, to Canada later this month to speak about his experiences as a doctor during both sieges of Fallujah. However, he was denied a visa by Canada's embassy in Jordan.

Salam heads a group called Doctors for Iraq Society and has frequently travelled abroad to raise money for food and medical supplies. He's known for speaking about the suffering of Iraqi civilians during the war.

He has also written articles and given photo presentations accusing the U.S. forces in Iraq of committing atrocities.

Salam said he was told he had failed to convince the visa officer his trip was legitimate, and that there were fears he might try to stay in Canada because there are few job opportunities in Iraq. He also said his credentials for his hospital job were not persuasive.

A spokesperson for Citizenship and Immigration refused to discuss the case, citing privacy laws, but said that visa officers have discretionary powers to turn down any applicant.

A member of the Ottawa-based peace alliance said the doctor had already been to several other countries – including Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom – and always returned home to his family and his hospital job in Iraq.

"All of us know that there are many little ways in which our government tries to help the United States under the radar of Canadian public opinion," said Jo Wood. "I think this is one example of that."

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I did not know that Canada was such a strong proponent of the Bush Doctrine! By denying a visitor's visa to Dr. Salam Ismael of Iraq, the Canadian government has clearly stated that any critic of the U.S. is unwelcome to our fair, free, just, 'liberal' country. Canadian visa officials have come up with lame, transparent reasons for denying Dr. Ismael's entry. How dare anyone shed some light on what is really happening in Iraq? Our government is no better than its American counterpart. Will a Canadian 'Patriot Act' be next? I, for one, will definitely not be voting for this purportedly 'Liberal' government in the next election, and will urge everyone I know to do likewise.

posted by Annamarie at 1:25 PM