Rev. Majed El Shafie Renews His Call to Bring Rescued Yazidi Sex Slaves to Canada

OFWI’s plan to resettle 400 former Yazidi sex slaves to Canada was presented to the House of Commons Immigration Committee

OTTAWA – Rev. Majed El Shafie presented OFWI’s plan to resettle 400 Yazidi sex slaves and their families to Canada while testifying to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration today. He renewed his call for Canada to act immediately to rescue this vulnerable community.

In testimony to the committee, Rev. El Shafie said:

“If we have the ability to help relocate 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada, then we have the ability to relocate the 400 former Yazidi sex slaves too.”

“Part of the problem is that Canada does not have the policy process in place to help internally displaced people. We can’t leave the most vulnerable minorities behind simply because we want to be politically correct. Germany has successfully resettled 1,100 Yazidi refugees. They are the leaders on this issue. Canada can and must do more to help.”

In June, Canada finally followed the EU, UK, US, and UN’s lead in recognizing that Yazidis have been the victims of genocide at the hands of ISIS. The summer sitting of the Immigration Committee was initiated in response to the clear need for Canada to do more to relocate minority groups and vulnerable populations in need of immediate assistance.

OFWI will continue to pressure the government to live up to Canadian values and to ensure that these vulnerable girls and women are saved. We cannot wait any longer - the time to act is now.

Link to OFWI’s proposal to resettle 400 Yazidi sex slaves and their families to Canada

Link to OFWI’s report submitted to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration

Link to @OFWI’s live tweets of Majed El Shafie’s testimony before the Immigration Committee