Success Stories!

Conscientious Objector Allowed to Remain in Canada (UA 22/09)

Dean Walcott has been allowed to stay in Canada until the country's Federal Court decides whether or not to review his case. It is not yet known when this will be decided. He had been due to be deported to the uSA on 30 January. If deported to the USA, he risks being court-martialed and imprisoned for between for between one and five years and would therefore be a prisoner of conscience. Dean Walcott is seeking refugee status on a number of grounds, including that if returned to his unit in the USA, he would risk being subjected to hazing and other non-judicial punishment. Whilst in Canada, Dean Walcott has spoken out about his objection to the armed conflict in Iraq, and has become a member of a Canadian organization, the War Resisters Support Campaign, which works to lobby the Canadian government to offer sanctuary to US military personnel who go to Canada because of their opposition to the armed conflict in Iraq.
2009-01-29

Charges Dropped Against Border Aid Workers

On September 1, U.S. District Judge Raner Collins dismissed the case against humanitarian aid workers Shanti Sellz and Daniel Strauss. Sellz and Strauss had been charged with transporting undocumented migrants after providing assistance to three men found in apparently life-threatening condition in the Arizona desert last July. Thanks to all who took action on their behalf!
Download the interview with Daniel and Shanti as featured on Law and Disorder radio. MP3 format 15MB.
2006-09-01

Xiaodong Li - Sought asylum from religious persecution

Xiaodong Li, who was jailed and beaten in China for breaking a law against private worship, fled to the United States. He was nearly sent back to China after a U.S. court ruled, mistakenly, that he had been punished not for his religion but merely for his “religious activities.” Amnesty and other organizations wrote briefs to persuade the court it had erred – and succeeded. Mr. Li is now safe. Read more »
2005-10-03