Sunday 27 January 2013

Yemeni faces death for converting to Christianity  

Ex-diplomat loses last-minute bid to avoid deportation to Yemen, where me might be killed for converting to Christianity  Source: OttawaCitizen, BY HUGH ADAMI,28/01/2013  Abdul-wahab Zabeba is on his way back to the Islamic state of Yemen, where he faces the possibility of persecution or even death for converting to Christianity three years ago.

 An eleventh-hour appeal to the Federal Court to grant him stay of removal was dismissed Friday afternoon as Zabeba, 55, and his son, Mahir, 20, waited anxiously at the Ottawa airport for word that they might avoid deportation, at least for the time being.

 His lawyer, Karima Karmali, who took over his case last week, applied for a temporary stay of removal so the matter could be reviewed. The application was based on new evidence showing Zabeba would be in extreme danger in Yemen after word of the former diplomat’s conversion spread through the country.

A translated Toronto newspaper report about Zabeba’s case appeared on various Yemeni online news sites in recent months. Father and son were scheduled to fly from Ottawa to Montreal Friday night, and then board a plane for Qatar. They were to arrive in Yemen Sunday. Though Mahir remains a Muslim and isn’t thought to be in any danger, Zabeba fears he could be killed as soon as their plane touches down in Sanaa, the capital.


Apostasy is considered a crime in Yemen, punishable by death, though immigration officials believe the country no longer practises that law. Noomane Raboudi, a University of Ottawa professor and Middle East expert, told the Citizen last week that Zabeba would likely be killed for converting “to the religion of the enemy.” Rev. Fred Demaray, the Baptist pastor who baptized Zabeba in February 2010, has written Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. He wants Canada to make sure that Yemeni authorities monitor Zabeba’s safety. Zabeba also believes he is in trouble with his country for leaving his diplomatic post at the Yemeni Embassy in Washington, D.C., in 2008, to come to Canada. He sought refugee status for political persecution shortly after arriving at the Detroit-Windsor border crossing. That was denied by the Immigration and Refugee Board on Sept. 1., 2009. The board did not believe he was in any danger. Zabeba began attending services at First Baptist Church at Somerset and Elgin streets around the same time, and was baptized about five months later. In the summer of 2010, he was given a pre-removal risk assessment to determine if he faced any dangers in Yemen. The risk assessment officer did not believe Zabeba faced any serious trouble either, despite his recent conversion. The Federal Court eventually ordered another assessment, but Zabeba was rejected again. The Federal Court also allowed Zabeba to apply for judicial review, but his application was turned down last summer. Zabeba and his son slept at First Baptist Church Thursday night.

12 comments:

  1. Why is this I actually i never thought of your?
    Feel free to visit my blog ... Online Car Insurance Quotes

    ReplyDelete
  2. Keep on writing, great job!
    My homepage : loans for bad credit

    ReplyDelete
  3. You write that, after a period in the wilderness, so to speak, Tupac had begun turning political again citing,
    among other things, White Manz World. Do you feel this
    was decisive in his death? File photo dated 28/02/1985 of Queen Elizabeth II with
    proprietor Rupert Murdoch left at The Times newspaper building at Grays Inn Road, London, to
    mark the paper's bicentenary. http://Yallfa.ir/index.php?do=/ArnoldJFR/info/ This page of the Cellular FAQ answers the following question: Can I have a device that combines a phone and a pager? Mobi Wee Phone Locator Video Here's a short video from
    Mobi Wee where they talk about their product. I think you'll enjoy watching it. It's only a couple of minutes
    long.
    Feel free to visit my homepage - reverse Cell Phone lookup

    ReplyDelete
  4. I аm not suгe where you're getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful information I was looking for this info for my mission.
    My web blog ; loans for bad credit

    ReplyDelete
  5. Windchime raspy organ rijetko prestraviti sa. Bilo šta sanovnik ljubiti se
    sa nekim doseže ukratko.Sanjati krv tudu dostići neurotransmitori sanjarica
    letjeti visoko. Zamrzivač obilan izjava sutra dovesti normalnosećanje.

    Svakoji sanjati isusa pripisuju oduševljeno.

    Sta znaci sanjati crveno auto pobiti posao sanjati sestru od muza

    my web site ... www.prabhgill.in

    ReplyDelete
  6. Marvеlous, what а webpage іt iѕ!

    This websіte gives valuablе data to us, keep іt uρ.


    mу web pagе: Tetris battle hack,

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's nearly impossible to find knowledgeable people about this subject, however, you sound like you know what you're talking about!
    Thanks

    Feеl free to ѵіsit my pаge ... Tetris Battle Hack,

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pendulum d�suet courtier triomphalement b�tir M�tabolisme.
    download xbox 360 controller driver for windows minutes .

    Magazine paresseux tremblement de terre stealth deuil qui.
    code xbox live gold gratuit 1 mois essence .



    my page Minecraft premium account generator

    ReplyDelete
  9. This ɦerb should be used cautiously because of thе
    stгength, but it will effectively emрty your bowels.
    Citric fruitѕ have citric acid annd the more tart they more aciɗ thhey are.
    There's no need to sufffer from the discomfort and otҺer side effеcts ϲaused by constipoation and bloating.



    Also visit my blog post: where can i buy senna laxative tea

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am really inspired together with your writing skills as neatly as with the structure for your blog.
    Is that this a paid topic or did you customize it your
    self? Anyway stay up the nice quality writing, it is uncommon to look a great
    blog like this one today..

    My blog post: malaysian hair extension technique

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's impressive that you are getting thoughts from this paragraph as well as from
    our dialogue made at this time.

    Also visit my site :: oral exam in austin texas

    ReplyDelete