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130 Palestinian students are currently trapped in Gaza, the West Bank, and Egypt as a result of the Canadian Government’s refusal to offer a biometrics exemption and expedite their Visa process. Each of these students has been accepted to a Canadian University, many of them with funding, but are now trapped in limbo, many in life-threatening conditions, as a result of Canada’s inaction. In fact, two students have died while waiting for their Visa.
PM Mark Carney, Minister of Public Safety of Canada Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Immigration Lena Metlege Diab, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand have blood on their hands.
Canada’s refusal of entry of Palestinian students is a clear example of the Palestine exception. It is vital that we challenge Canada’s anti-Palestinian racism, and urge the government to follow in the footsteps of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Ireland, and allow these students immediate entry.
In today’s episode, we deep dive into this case, and in specific discuss:
* The current governmental conditions which have trapped 130 Palestinian University students in Gaza, the West Bank, and Egypt
* Recent decisions by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that have threatened the wellbeing and lives of migrants
* The concept of the Palestine exception and the reality of anti-Palestinian racism, and the ways in which the refusal to expedite Visas and wave biometrics is a case of Palestinian exceptionism
* Individual stories of Palestinian students impacted by the IRCC’s racism
* Action items that we can take to support Palestinian students in coming to Canada for their studies - including an announcement of my upcoming in-person event in Toronto!
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