B’nai Brith Canada outraged at Zundel’s refugee claim

Ottawa, February 19, 2003

For Immediate Release

Ottawa, February 19, 2003… “We are outraged that a man like Ernst Zundel was allowed to re-enter this country,” said Frank Dimant, Executive Vice-President of B’nai Brith Canada after learning that Zundel was deported to Canada earlier today.

“We had been in close communication with Minister Coderre on this matter,” Dimant stated, “and were hopeful that the government would intervene in time to have him deported to his native Germany rather than Canada. The question needs to be asked: Was the Minister properly consulted on this decision, or was it a bureaucratic foul-up?

Now that he’s here, he should be sent right back to Germany where he belongs. One of the reasons he was previously denied Canadian citizenship was a CSIS report judging him to be a security threat with close connections to radical right wing groups.

Zundel’s claim for refugee status makes a laughing stock out of Canada’s refugee program, which is meant for genuine claimants.”

Dimant also noted: “The American authorities had the discretion to return Zundel to Germany where he belongs. It is shameful that the US did an end-run on Canada by dumping him here.”

-30-

For more information contact Joseph Ben-Ami Director of Communications
613-294-7313

B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.