Transcript – Abdelrazik

A devout Muslim. A free man. A Canadian.

Abousfian Abdelrazik can’t remember the last time he felt safe.

Nearly 19 years ago he came to Canada looking for democracy, freedom, and the protection of human rights.

He came to Canada with a dream of leaving the injustice behind for good.

But his dreams were soon shaken when he endured torture and detention in Sudan 6 years ago.

“I remember when …. The party of torture… When they ask you to come in certain manner that mean this indication that this night or this hour is going to be a party of torture… It is like a sheep that will be slaughter and they cover your eyes with a piece of material and tie up your hands… And sometimes and let you set down in your knees like that… And suddenly you find someone kicks you in the back and slap you in the face it is common in Sudan to beat the people up”.

In 2003, while visiting his ill mother, the 47 years-old was put in jail by local police officers in Sudan at the request of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

He was accused of supporting Al-Qaeda.

Alone in jail, with no friends and no company, Abdelrazik lost the hope of being reunited with his children in Montreal.

“I just sometimes like to speak to flies or ants because they are the only friends you got … You like to share with them… sometimes you put food on the floor just to see them moving around and to see that there is something here is moving .. And sometimes soldiers open the door and come inside without any reason.”

On June 27th, Abdelrazik landed on Canadian soil and when he appeared at St. Thomas University, he was welcomed with long standing ovation.

For STU Journalism this is Ayat Abed Isaid, Fredericton.

Short URL: http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=1123

Posted by Ayat Abu Hantash on Oct 7, 2009. Filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.