Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 8, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba b2 Winnipeg free press tuesday August 8 2006 City Sanctuary family get pleas prayers congregation to write letters to government by Carol Sanders s supporters of a family that a taken Sanctuary in a Winnipeg Church Are praying to god and pleading with the government to let the Razas stay in Canada. On this coming thursday Crescent fort Rouge United Church will Host write on for the Raza family a worship service at 7 ., followed by a letter writing Bee to govern ment officials at 7 30 Last thursday the Wardlaw Avenue Church offered Sanctuary to the pakistani couple and their six children Ages 13 to one. The family members ? except the two youngest who were born Here and therefore Canadian citizens ? faced a removal order and were to be deported Friday morning Back to Pakistan which they left eight years ago. Hassan Raza and his wife Sarfraz Kausar were warned Fri Day that warrants for their arrests could be issued for Violat ing the order removing them from Canada. Now the family can to leave the Church for fear of arrest and being deported to the country they left eight years ago because of religious persecution. The Church members Are asking people to write on the fam Ilys behalf to Monte Solberg minister of citizenship and Immi Gration said Rev. Barb Janes. They re hoping the minister will intervene and let the family stay in Canada. They re asking the letter writers to Point out that Hassan Raza is employed and supporting his wife and children who Are Safe healthy and Happy in Canada. If they re forced to go to Pakistan they la be returning to a country with a poor human rights record and a place that is notorious for child labour Janes said. Sanctuary is an act of civil disobedience but the Church and myself recognize that breaking the Law in this Case is fully justified said Janine Legal a Friend and advocate for the family who met them last year when she worked at Welcome place. The Best interests of the children need to be made a prior Ity this was the lawyers argument. Unfortunately our officials in positions of Power in these cases Don to always have the same View she said. In fact they suggested that the two youngest Canadian born children stay behind As they Are legally entitled to live Here. The family made the Only Choice they could live with ? which is to keep the family congregation members Hassan Razas employer and fam ily friends have been providing food for the family. The Church at 525 Wardlaw ave Winnipeg my r3l 0l9 is accepting Finan Cial donations to help cover the costs of housing the Razas As Well As messages of moral support. semis collide two dead two tractor trailer units were involved in a head on collision yesterday morning just West of Vermillion Bay killing both Drivers. Both vehicles were destroyed by the collision which closed Highway 17 for most of the Day. The incident occurred just after 5 . Its not Clear what caused the crash. Police weren to releasing further details As the investigation was ongo ing. The identity of the Drivers was being withheld Pend ing notification of next of Kin. Ports the War in Iraq. Its beyond me that a that or try to convince Franklin Graham was Graham of a particular person from any invited and is coming Here perspective wed rather for the sole purpose of Church organization work with other support spreading the message would use that kind ing denominations to that Jesus Christ is the focus on this festival and of language Way the truth and the its goals said Voth. Light said festival direct i a not against the Tor Klug. He wont be com goal this event is setting ing Here to espouse his said Neufeld. I a against political opinions or Dis the integrity of the speak cuss what he believes in regard to world or. That is what has troubled issues Klug said. Winnipeg a roman Catholic Arch Bish that does to sit Well with mennonites of James Weisgerber endorsed the fes like Neufeld. Rival in a letter to parishes calling it a How can you profess Jesus is the Grace filled Opportunity to publicly cel Prince of peace on one hand and adv berate and witness our Faith in the lord Cate on can to use such violence ship of asked Neufeld who was a five year old for. Robert Polz at St. Patrick a Church refugee during the second world War said the event Aims to bring people Back and has volunteered with humanitarian to Church and to form a deeper relation missions in India Bangladesh and crop ship with Christ. Tia where he helped refugees forced to we want to really stress its a Faith flee during the Balkan War. Festival not a political festival said its close to me and i see the need to Polz. He said if you polled priests Indi speak out said Neufeld. Visually on their political beliefs you a whether Graham will face similar barriers to entry. Wed like clarification on what this policy is and How does it apply said Cair can spokeswoman Halima Maut Bur in Ottawa. get a Broad Range of views. God uses imperfect human beings As his vessels the priest said. The Council on Arab islamic relations Canada has also voiced its con Cern about Graham coming to Canada. It asked the Federal government to Clar Ify its position on Freedom of speech after it blocked a planned visit to Canada of a British Imam who has made hate Ful comments against jews homosexuals and other minorities. Graham has called islam a very evil and a very wicked religion and said that hindus Are bound by satan a the Federal government has not said evangelist continued from Page b1 Days after the terror attacks on the world Trade Center Graham said in an interview on can that America should unleash its fury on Afghanistan. And i think we re going to have to use every ? and i hate to say it hellish weapon in our inventory if need be to defeat these people Graham said according to a can transcript. Its beyond me that a person from any Church organization would use that kind of language said Neufeld 66. Graham has since said that he sup you re dealing with a Small group of individuals who have their opinion and we respect their opinion said Klug with the festival. The mennonite Brethren and mennonite Church Manitoba Are actively involved said Klug. We look Forward to working together towards the goals of the festival to mobilize the Christian Community to assemble As Many people As possible to hear the message of Jesus said Norm Voth director of evangelism and service ministries with mennonite Church Manitoba. All of us have perspectives from which we work Voth said. 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