Canada: Stop Defaming Canadian-Eritreans

Canadian-Eritrean youths named Eden and Siham dancing on stage during the Eritrean festival in Toronto - August 4, 2013 (Credit: Zantana Imaging)

Canada: Stop Defaming Canadian-Eritreans

By Habtezion Ghermai,

I am writing in response to articles that have been written about the Canadian-Eritrean communities in Canada, and some of the actions that have been taken against members of our Community.

Since January of 2012, The National Post has been writing articles that state ridiculous claims against the Canadian-Eritrean community in Canada. Some of the claims in these articles including the notion that Canadian-Eritrean were being forced to pay a 2% tax to the Eritrean consulate in Toronto,and that this money was going to support terrorism against Canada.This outlandish claims have created a negative image of Canadian-Eritreans and have had negative impacts on the community. Members of our Communities are being discriminated against based on the claim that they are supporting terrorism,in one example,when the Canadian-Eritrean community wanted to rent a hall in Calgary for their annual festival, they were denied and the reason they were given was because they "support terrorism".

The RCMP subsequently investigated some members of our Community and to date, no charges have been laid against anyone.

As a Canadian Citizen, I call, my elected representative in parliament, to ensure that my voice and the collective voices of the Canadian-Eritrean community is heard on these allegations.

I must firmly state that neither I nor my family has ever been forced to pay any 2% tax to the Eritrean consulate or government. As enshrined in Canadian law, I have the right to have dual citizenship and exercise my dual citizenship rights. As a dual citizen of Canada and Eritrea, I willingly pay 2% rehabilitation contribution as part of my obligation to help rebuild my country of origin, I must emphasize that nobody forces me to make this contribution.

Furthermore, Canadian-Eritreans are proud Canadian Citizens and have made Canada their home. I, like many other Canadian-Eritreans, are part of Canadian society and we contribute to its economy, growth and cultural mosaic. Neither I nor anyone else in my community would ever do anything that would harm Canada. The allegations that we support terrorism is false, malicious and dangerous. Members of my community have already experienced discrimination as a result of these allegations, and we want that to stop. Third, as you may be aware, many Eritreans are languishing in refugee camps and have become targets of international criminal smugglers. In October 1, over 200 people perished on the shores of Italy as their boat tried to land in Italy.We ask Canada to call for independent and international investigations into these smugglers and bring them to to justice. As the Canadian-Eritreans have been victims of these smuggling rings, our community is ready to assist in these investigations.

Sincerely,
Habtezion Ghermai.

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