Montrealer stranded in Sudan must get off terror list to fly back: Cannon

A Montreal man stranded in Sudan must get himself removed from a United Nations blacklist before he can return to Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Friday.

Abousfian Abdelrazik was arrested and detained while visiting his mother in Sudan in 2003. International authorities allege the 47-year-old has ties to al-Qaeda.

He was released because authorities couldn't find any evidence linking him to the organization; however, his name was added to the UN Security Council's list of terrorist suspects. UN countries are required to freeze the assets and impose travel bans on the suspects on the list.

His passport expired while he was detained and Canadian authorities previously told his lawyer that Abdelrazik must pay for a plane ticket before he is issued travel documents.

A group of supporters in Canada raised $1,000 earlier this month and bought him a ticket, apparently satisfying the federal government's conditions.

However, Cannon now says Abdelrazik needs to get his name removed from the terror list before he can travel home.

Abdelrazik's lawyer accuses government of changing its tune

Abdelrazik's lawyer, Yavar Hameed, told the Canadian Press that Cannon's comments Friday mark a clear change in the government's position, a shift he called "illegal" and "immoral." 

"I think the response [Cannon] gave [Friday] is indicative of their position," Hameed said.

"They don't intend to do anything, and they're going to hold up the fact that he's on the list as some kind of impediment to bring him back."

Hameed said under UN laws, a country can bring its citizens home if they are on the blacklist.

"The fact he finds himself on this list doesn't mean that Canada can't bring him back," Hameed told CBC Radio's As It Happens on Wednesday.

Hameed said the government hasn't yet responded to a request for formal notification whether it plans to provide travel documents. The airline needs 48 hours advance notice whether Abdelrazik will have valid travel documents, said Hameed.

NDP's Dewar questions government motive

Abdelrazik's flight is scheduled to leave on April 3.

Hameed said the government could be "just waiting for the clock to time out."

NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar, who has been actively working on Abdelrazik's behalf, said he has government documents that show a passport would be issued if he had a plane ticket.

"I just don't understand why they wont help Mr. Abdelrazik and what it is they are really hiding behind," he said.

"There's really nothing left for them to do procedurally other than provide him with the necessary travel documents."

Abdelrazik was visiting his ailing mother in Sudan in 2003 when he was arrested for alleged terrorist links. Sudanese investigators found no evidence to support criminal charges and released him.

Abdelrazik alleges he was tortured during his detention.

The RCMP have also said there is no information linking Abdelrazik to criminal activities.

He has been living in the lobby of the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum for nearly a year.