fourth of july gift from federal court

From Lee Zaslofsky, with the War Resisters Support Campaign:

FOURTH OF JULY GIFT FROM THE FEDERAL COURT

JOSHUA KEY'S CASE BOUNCED BACK TO THE REFUGEE BOARD

On this Fourth of July there is great news from Justice Barnes of the Federal Court. Joshua Key's appeal has been successful. The court has ordered the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to reconsider Josh's case. The IRB is also ordered to have a different Board member in charge of the case, not the same one Josh had for his refugee hearing.

I spoke to Josh a few minutes ago and he said he was "surprised" that after so many negative decisions we finally got a positive one. He says he is "grateful and happy", and feels that he and his family are moving "forwards and not backwards" now. His wife Brandi is taking a break away from home this weekend, so she will find out about this when she calls home this evening. I would love to be there to see how she reacts!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JOSH AND BRANDI AND THE KIDS! CONGRATULATIONS TO THEIR LAWYER AND OUR FRIEND JEFFRY HOUSE. (Listen to Jeffry this evening on "As It Happens" on CBC Radio One)

The War Resisters Support Campaign now calls on Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley to take immediate action to STOP ALL DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE WAR RESISTERS until the legal issues raised by this court decision can be resolved. We call on her once again to implement the War Resisters Motion adopted by the House of Commons on June 3 -- a motion supported by a large majority of Canadians.

We most urgently call upon her to CANCEL THE REMOVAL ORDER AGAINST COREY GLASS, which takes effect on July 10. We urge all those who support the war resisters to join us in that urgent request.

According to Jeffry House, today's court decision means that all the war resisters may have cause to hope that their cases could get another look. We will have to wait a while to see how that goes, but today's decision makes things look a lot more hopeful.

ON JULY 9, AMERICAN SUPPORTERS OF THE WAR RESISTERS WILL DEMONSTRATE AT CANADIAN CONSULATES ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONSTANT ACTIVE SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY.

ON JULY 10, CANADIAN SUPPORTERS WILL DEMONSTRATE ACROSS CANADA. WE HOPE THESE DEMONSTRATIONS WILL BE CELEBRATING A VICTORY IN OUR FIGHT TO KEEP COREY GLASS IN CANADA. BUT IF NECESSARY THEY WILL PROTEST A CRUEL AND UNJUST DECISION TO FORCE HIM TO LEAVE.

This Fourth of July let's celebrate on both sides of the border. And then let's get back to work!

Peace,

Lee Zaslofsky
War Resisters Support Campaign