On Thursday, March 24th the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada released its decision on the case of American War Resister Jeremy Hinzman, his wife Nga Thi Nguyen and his son Liam. American War Resisters are soldiers who refuse to fight in the war on the people of Iraq and come to Canada seeking refugee status. The ruling states, “Hinzman had not made a convincing argument that he would face persecution or cruel and unusual punishment if sent back to the United States.” According to this decision, Jeremy Hinzman and his family will not be given refugee status in Canada. This verdict is a complete denial of Jeremy’s right as a soldier to refuse to fight in an illegal and unjust occupation. Vancouver’s anti-war coalition, Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) condemns this decision. We also condemn the ruling by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to refuse to allow the illegality of the war on Iraq as part of Jeremy’s defense. This effectively shut down an entire component of Jeremy’s defense, and greatly influenced the final decision. This fight in defense of American soldiers seeking refugee status in Canada is not over.

When Jeremy and the other War Resisters chose to refuse to fight in Iraq and come to Canada seeking refugee status, by the very nature, became part of, and strengthened, the anti-war movement. They have spoken to the media, at rallies, at forums, and have continuously condemned the war and current occupation of Iraq, adding strength and an important voice to the fight to end the illegal occupation of Iraq.

“I know a lot of people have problems with desertion, believe me, I have problems with desertion, however, when you are faced with committing evil acts, you have no other choice but to act and that is what I did by coming here.”- a quote from Jeremy in reaction to the ruling. Jeremy served in Afghanistan and saw what the war and occupation meant to the Afghan people: only destruction and violence. He refused to be complicit in any US aggression from that point on. His refusal to fight in Iraq is recognition of the fact that the occupation of Iraq does nothing good for the people of Iraq. Him and the other War Resisters had the military, as an only option for a post-secondary education and a viable future, and our continual defense of their rights and demands, is the defense of young people and students in the United States.

Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) is committed to fighting with the anti-war movement all over the country for the immediate acceptance of all War Resisters as refugees in Canada. Canada must accept Brandon Hughey, Dave Sanders, Darrell Anderson, Cliff Cornell, Joshua Key, and others, especially Jeremy Hinzman, for whose precedent setting case there is no other option but to fight.

We Demand that Canada grant Refuge to those who refuse to go to war!

Support and Defend War Resisters!