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Kurdish refugee from Turkey suing Ottawa over delays
9.11.2005
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A
Kurdish refugee living in Toronto is suing the
federal government for denying him
permanent-resident status because of alleged
terrorist associations.
Suleyman Goven came to Canada in 1991, claiming he'd
been tortured in Turkey because he was a Kurd and a
trade union leader.
A year later, he helped set up a cultural
organization, the Toronto Kurdish Community
Information Centre.
However, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
considered it an organization that supported the PKK,
the Kurdistan Workers Party.
The PKK is on the federal government's list of
outlawed organizations because of its terrorist
activities. Goven denies the allegations, and said
they have never been proven, even after a CSIS
review.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
Statement of Suleyman Goven in PDF
Goven's lawyer said it's time for the government to
move ahead with his application for permanent
residency.
"If they actually had evidence to support this
(allegation) they should have moved against Suleyman
a long time ago," said Andrew Brougher.
"He's been walking the streets for 14 years. They
clearly don't think he represents any kind of a
threat, otherwise they would have done something
about it."
Goven said he's shocked to have to defend himself
from allegations so many years later, something he
was forced to do in more oppressive countries.
"You feel once, you escape from persecution or
oppression, then you meet new oppressors in this
democratic country," he said.
www.cbc.ca
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