White South African Granted Asylum in Canada

[The Bread Guy]

First run by the Ottawa Sun:

An Ottawa man has been granted refugee status after an immigration board panel ruled he would be likely be persecuted if he returned back to his native South Africa — because he is white.

A Canadian immigration and refugee board panel ruled Thursday that Brandon Huntley, 31, could stay in Canada because he presented “clear and convincing proof of the state’s inability or unwillingness to protect him.”

“I find that the claimant would stand out like a ‘sore thumb’ due to his colour in any part of the country,” tribunal panel chair William Davis said in his decision to grant Huntley refugee status.

It’s likely the first time a white South African has been granted refugee status in Canada claiming persecution from black South Africans, said Russell Kaplan, Huntley’s immigration lawyer.

“There’s a hatred of what we did to them and it’s all about the colour of your skin,” Huntley said of the violence wrought by black attackers on many white South Africans.

Huntley first came to Canada on a six-month work permit in 2004 to work as a carnival attendant. He returned home to South Africa and came back to work in Canada in 2005 for a year and stayed illegally for an additional year until he made a refugee claim in April 2008 ....

The Canadian Press, Reuters & BBC say South Africa is calling the decision "racist", while South African media say Canada's High Commissioner is sorting out Canada's position on South Africans seeking asylum here.

Here's what the ruling ANC party is saying (at the party web page, not at the government page) - .pdf also attached:

ANC statement on the granting by Canada of a refugee status to a white South African

1 September 2009

The African National Congress (ANC) views the granting by Canada of a refugee status to South African citizen Brandon Huntley on the grounds that Africans would "persecute" him, as racist.

South Africa is a constitutional democracy with organs of State fully in place to fight crime - one of the ANC's key priorities - without any reference to race of a victim or perpetrator. We find the claim by Huntley to have been attacked seven times by Africans due his skin colour - without any police intervention - sensational and alarming. Canada's reasoning for granting Huntley a refugee status can only serve to perpetuate racism.

There are no doubts about the Government's commitment to fight crime in the country. During his 2009 State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma made it clear that Government would - with the support of all organs of civil society - move with speed in addressing crime.

Said the President: "Together we must do more to fight crime. Our aim is to establish a transformed, integrated, properly resourced and well-managed criminal justice system. It is also critically important to improve the efficiency of the courts and the performance of prosecutors, and to enhance detective, forensic and intelligence services. This work has started in earnest, and it will be undertaken with new energy and vigour."

The President's appointment of Police Commissioner Bheki Cele and that of Head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), Anwar Dramat, soon after taking over the reigns as Head of State - demonstrates how serious Government is, in stamping out crime.

Among other interventions, Government has further pledged to:

    * Increase the South African Police Service personnel from 183 180 to 204 860 over the next three years.
    * Increase the number of detectives by more than 19 percent, with 12 928 staff already undergoing detective related training this year.
    * Increase the capacity of forensic science laboratories with additional funding of R150 million for 2008/9 period and a further R50 million per year to 2011/12 financial year. This is done due to the importance of scientific evidence, which has become ential in the investigation of cases.

Crime fighting is at the core of the ANC's commitment to create a stable and safe environment for all South Africans regardless of colour or creed. Dealing with crime along racial lines can only serve to divide the nation.

Issued by:
Brian Sokutu
Spokesperson
African National Congress

 

[the 48th regulator]

What happened to the socialist pursuits for, and of the people.....


dileas

tess

 

[Shec]

If Huntley had nothing to fear  before he sought refugee status he probably does now that this particular pandora's box has been opened, which in turn legitimizes his claim.

 

[The Bread Guy]

This from the Canadian Press:

The federal government will appeal an immigration board decision granting refugee status to a white South African who claimed he was persecuted because of his colour, reports say.

Media reports say officials with Citizenship and Immigration Canada indicated Thursday the government would appeal the controversial ruling after reviewing the immigration board's decision.

The move came after worldwide publicity and growing criticism of the ruling and a request by the South African government to challenge the ruling.

The Immigration and Refugee Board recently gave refugee status to Brandon Huntley, who claimed he was the victim of repeated attacks in South Africa and that police were unable or unwilling to help him. He said he was the victim of persecution by black South Africans.

The board's decisions are normally kept secret because of privacy laws, but this one was detailed in published reports last week. The board has refused comment, but hasn't denied any of the published details ....

More from the Ottawa Sun

 

[George Wallace]

Gotta love it.  Whites only discriminate against other races; they are never the victims of discrimination.  :

The most racist people I have ever met, have not been white.