By Canadian Press

Lawyer for Abdelrazik accuses former minister of exiling him through passport denial

Dec 11, 2024 | 1:53 PM

OTTAWA — A lawyer for Abousfian Abdelrazik has accused former foreign minister Lawrence Cannon of exiling the Montreal man by denying him a passport to return to Canada.

Cannon told a Federal Court hearing today he did not exile Abdelrazik, but refused him an emergency travel document on national security grounds in the best interests of Canada.

The Sudanese-born Abdelrazik, now 62, settled in Montreal as a refugee and became a Canadian citizen in the 1990s.

During a 2003 visit to his native country to see his ailing mother, he was arrested, imprisoned and questioned about suspected extremist connections.

Abdelrazik, who denies involvement in terrorism, says he was tortured by Sudanese authorities during two periods of detention.

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: December 9-15, 2024

Dec 10, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: December 2-8, 2024

Dec 02, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: November 12-17, 2024

Nov 12, 2024

He is suing the Canadian government, claiming officials arranged for his arbitrary imprisonment, encouraged his detention by Sudanese authorities and obstructed his repatriation to Canada for several years.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press