CBC News, Sunday, January 23, 2011
Several relatives of former Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali have arrived in Montreal, CBC News has learned.
At least five family members, including Ben Ali's brother-in-law, arrived in Montreal by private jet on Thursday morning, and most were carrying permanent resident cards, government sources told CBC News.
The Canadian government, fearing that more are trying to come to this country, is monitoring airlines to try to prevent that, the same sources said.
On Sunday, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney confirmed the relatives' arrival.
"There are, I gather, a couple members of his family who are already Canadian permanent residents, which gives them a legal right to be here," Kenney told CBC News. "But anyone who wants to come from Tunisia requires a visa. That would be very difficult for someone to obtain if they can't go back to their country of origin. So we're watching this situation carefully."
The family members could be residing at a home owned by Ben Ali's son-in-law, Mohamed Sakher El Materi, in Montreal's upscale Westmount neighbourhood.
Member of Montreal's Tunisian community were upset by the news.
"It is outrageous," Sonia Djelidi said. "We don't understand why Canada would accept them here in Canada because it doesn't follow the Canadian values, such as justice and social democracy, and we want this family to be judged by Tunisians in Tunisia."
Some including Mourid Chtioui urged the government to freeze the assets of the former dictator's relatives until the investigation in Tunisia is completed, and said they're going to hire a lawyer to push for that.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said in an email to CBC News that individuals are allowed in the country as long they have the proper papers and are not wanted by a foreign government.
On Jan. 14, Ben Ali, who ruled Tunisia with an iron fist for more than 23 years, stepped down as president following weeks of riots in the North African country and immediately left for Saudi Arabia.
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