A little girl who spends her life inside a church
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- Published on Tuesday, 01 April 2014 16:20
- Written by editor
Immigration Minister Chris Alexander: Let the Pusuma family stay safe in Canada
Sign Kristina's Petition
My good friends, Jozeph and Timea Pusuma and their eight year old daughter Viktoria (known affectionately as Lulu) have lived in a church in Toronto for two years, unable to set foot outside for fear of being deported from Canada to Hungary where their lives have been threatened.
The family fled Hungary to Canada after Jozeph began receiving death threats for his human rights work for an EU Parliamentarian known for speaking out against the persecution and racism Roma face. The last straw was when a masked, anti-Roma vigilante violently attacked them in the front yard of their own home.
It has been a nightmare. The lawyer who represented them at their refugee hearing in Toronto failed to present crucial evidence, and as a result the Immigration and Refugee Board decided they weren't "real refugees" and refused their case. The evidence does exists. The EU Parliamentarian even wrote a letter confirming the family's situation but the board refused to re-open the case so that this crucial evidence could be presented.
Now, there is one glimmer of hope! The Law Society of Upper Canada has started a disciplinary hearing against the family's former lawyer, on the basis that he provided incompetent representation to the Pusuma family and 18 others. If the lawyer is found guilty by the Law Society, my friends will have a very strong case for having their refugee claim reconsidered on the basis that the evidence that was never filed by their original lawyer.
The problem is, Minister Alexander and Immigration Canada are trying to deport the family before the investigation is complete! Please sign my petition asking Immigration Canada to let my friends stay at least until the investigation into the lawyer is over. It is only fair.
I know this is a politically difficult issue, and the Canadian Government has been reluctant to accept Roma as refugees in general, but this is a family that will truly face a terrible fate if sent home. Jozsef is a particularly prominent target because he worked for an EU Parliamentarian. Since fleeing to Canada, Hungarian newspapers have even published articles about the family's refugee claim which they called traitorous.
Racism against Roma is common in Hungary, but in the past few years it's become more dangerous. Vigilantes have formed groups to terrorize Roma. Many like Jozsef have received death threats and have been attacked. Roma are subjected to widespread discrimination in employment, housing and health care, and Roma children are forced to attend segregated schools.
Being able to stay until the Law Society's proceeding is complete is Jozeph, Timea and Viktoria's best hope to stay safe in Canada. Over 10,000 people have already signed my petition for my friends, and I know they look at it often to remind themselves that Canadians like you care. Please join me in demanding justice and fairness for the Pusuma family by signing my petition.
Thank you,
Kristina Nagy
P.S. For more information about the family please read these articles in the Toronto Star.
1) Toronto lawyer faces 18 complaints from refugees,Nicholas Keung, Toronto Star March 18, 2014
2) Failed refugee claimants find sanctuary in Toronto churches, Rick Westhead, Toronto Star, October 14, 2012
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