U.K. politician George Galloway flies to Toronto on Saturday after court decision

[JohnyCanuck]

Eighteen months ago, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney blocked then-British MP George Galloway from Canada, labeling him a terror supporter and a national security risk. At the time, Galloway was scheduled to appear in four Canadian cities on a speaking tour called "Resisting War: from Gaza to Afghanistan."

Galloway and his supporters protested, saying the move was a crass political attempt to silence criticism of Canadian foreign policy on Afghanistan and Palestine. Weeks before the ban, Galloway had led a humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza as part of an international campaign to break Israel's illegal blockade.

This week, after Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley issued his 60-page decision on the matter, Galloway and his supporters were fully vindicated.

But you wouldn't know it from reading the mainstream media's response to the decision. Most headlines declared that Galloway "lost" his appeal because the judge dismissed the case. Justice Mosley ruled that, since Galloway had not been denied entry into Canada at the border, a final decision on his admissibility had not been made. This meant that Justice Mosley had no decision to overturn. Consequently, Justice Mosley dismissed the case, but not before agreeing with every other claim made by Galloway and his supporters. This is what most mainstream media seems to have missed.

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But the ruling also raises some very troubling questions.

The most alarming concern is the way in which the government continues to exploit Canada's so-called anti-terror legislation to stifle dissent. This is a long-standing criticism of Canada's post-9/11 restrictions on civil liberties. Legal experts have pointed to the vague and undefined language of anti-terror laws that allows for the broadest possible interpretations of "terrorism."

http://rabble.ca/news/2010/09/what-galloway-court-decision-means-free-speech-canada

[JohnyCanuck]

1. George Galloway returns to Canada this weekend

On Saturday evening, former British MP George Galloway arrives in Canada and gives a speech Sunday afternoon in front of what organizers predict will be a packed house at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church in Toronto. That’s assuming he’s allowed into the country. When Galloway tried to enter Canada 18 months ago, he was turned back.

In his judgment, Federal Court Judge Richard Mosley made it clear that the Conservative government used the Immigration Act to prevent Galloway from entering Canada because they disagreed with his political views -- not because he presented any threat to Canadians. There are other cases before the courts now that raise similar issues.

“I think that this case confirms that this particular government is applying Canadian laws politically in order to advance its own agenda,” said Barbara Jackman, legal counsel for Galloway and thirteen other applicants, during Wednesday morning’s press conference. She explained that the legislation under which Galloway was told he was inadmissible to Canada is meant to protect Canada’s security from people who are members of terrorist organizations. But Galloway was never (and still isn’t) a member of any terrorist organization.

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“There’s much to be said on Saturday and Sunday should I be with you then,” said Galloway. “Just like a book they tried to ban which tops the bestseller lists, there’s going to a lot of people in Canada listening to what I’ve got to say. A lot more than ever would have been if the Minister (Kenney) had not embarked upon this foolish course of action.”

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/johnbon/2010/09/george-galloway-returns-canada-weekend

[CHIMO]

2. Canadian court slams Galloway ban

http://www.georgegalloway.com/