CAIRO (Marwa Awad)
Controversial British MP George Galloway's request to enter Canada was denied by a Federal Court judge Monday who said Galloway can speak to Canadians via satellite in a decision peace activist groups say is a blow to free speech in Canada.
" I will one way or another be heard in Canada either in person or by some other technical means " George Galloway The decision at the preliminary hearing barred Galloway from entering Canada to speak at an event in Toronto on Monday, the first of three events scheduled in the country.
Justice Luc Martineau's ruling was an interim motion, which temporarily denies Galloway entry into Canada until his case takes its full course in court. The judge ruled that despite raising "serious concerns" over civil liberties, Galloway did not need to be physically in Canada since he could broadcast his speech live from the United States to viewers in Canada.
Both Galloway and the Anti-War Coalition, the main organizer of his speaking tour, said the speeches will go on as planned. Galloway is set to speak to thousands of viewers via satellite from Maine.
"I will one way or another be heard in Canada -- either in person or by some other technical means," Galloway told the Canadian press.
The Judge's motion steered clear of Galloway's alleged connection to Hamas and the legality of his visit to Gaza. |
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Free-speech harmed " Not only did Egypt and Israel cleared the Viva Palestina convoy allowing Galloway to enter Gaza, but the U.S. is allowing him to broadcast his speech to Canadians and here is our government calling him a terrorist and barring him from entry " Barbara Jackman, lawyer of Galloway Galloway's lawyers called the judge's decision "unprecedented" and said it risked eroding free-speech in a country that takes pride in respecting civil liberties.
"It is disconcerting that the Judge does not see that barring Galloway from physically entering Canada to speak is an infringement on free-speech. He equates speaking via satellite with speaking and interacting with an audience and this is definitely not accurate," Hadayat Nazami, one of Galloway's lawyers, told AlArabiya.net.
Nazami said the federal court will take up to year to make a final decision on whether to permanently ban Galloway from entering Canada.
"Not only did Egypt and Israel cleared the Viva Palestina convoy allowing Galloway to enter Gaza, but the U.S. is allowing him to broadcast his speech to Canadians and here is our government calling him a terrorist and barring him from entry," Barbara Jackman, Galloway's second lawyer, told AlArabiya.net. |
