OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE CANADA-YAZIDI ACTION COALITION

Federal government announcement of Yazidi resettlement welcomed; but leading human rights and refugee support organizations left with more questions than answers

TORONTO – A group of non-governmental organizations, private refugee sponsors, Yazidi-Canadians, and concerned Canadians from across the country are announcing the launch of the Canada-Yazidi Action Coalition (CYAC) with a 5-point call to action for the Canadian government.

“Thousands of Yazidis are displaced and more must be done to help these victims of genocide,” said Hadji Hesso, spokesperson for the Canada-Yazidi Action Coalition. “While the coalition welcomes the news of future government action, the community is being left in the dark on details, underscoring the urgent need for a strong voice for our threatened community.”

Minister Hussen’s February 21 announcement of the Government’s response to the House of Commons unanimously adopted motion left Coalition members with more questions than answers. In the coming weeks and months, the coalition will continue to advocate for the plight of the Yazidis and will not stop until Canada has taken a number of steps to fulfill the moral obligation to respond to the Yazidi genocide.

Canadians interested in learning more can visit ofwi.org/cyac and are asked to sign the petition at: https://www.change.org/p/government-of-canada-must-support-yazidi-genocide-victims

Condemn violence wherever it occurs

On Sunday night a shooter entered a mosque in Quebec City and brazenly killed six men praying and injuring several others. One Free World International condemns this attack. Violence and hatred have no place in Canada.

As an international human rights organization, we are sadly all too familiar with the plight of religious minorities around the world. The pain we feel when Christian churches in the Middle East and Africa are violently attacked allows us to sympathize with the wives and children whose fathers and husbands were killed in Sunday's attack. Our condolences go out to them in this time of grief.

Our values of openness and respect for the dignity of each human being cannot be comprised. Hatred for others cannot be tolerated. We cannot accept or excuse an attack on a mosque in Canada.

We have welcomed people from around the world for generations and this strength of Canadian society. We must continue to have confidence in the Canadian people to defend and protect our values. Just as we have spoken up for Christians at home and around the world and combat anti-Semitism, we will speak out against those who perpetrate hate against our Muslim brothers.

Please say a prayer for those who lost loved ones in this attack on a place of worship. And join us in continuing to fight for justice and human rights around the world.

Sincerely, Rev. Majed El Shafie President & Founder One Free World International

Watch this CTV News report from inside the Quebec City mosque:

Fox News: Fighting ISIS in the Battle for Mosul

On Sunday, January 8 Fox News will air a special documentary, "War Stories: Fighting ISIS in the Battle for Mosul." Watch to learn more about our work in Iraq & Syria rescuing Yazidi sex slaves from ISIS' deadly grip. Watch a preview here:

Celebrating Freedom: An evening to champion the rescue of the Yazidi people

On December 10 One Free World International in partnership with ZoomerMedia hosted "Celebrating Freedom: An evening to champion the rescue of the Yazidi people" You can watch the full program here or scroll down below.

Speakers included:

• Moses Znaimer – Founder & CEO, ZoomerMedia Ltd.
• Hon. Peter Kent, Official Opposition Foreign Affairs Critic, MP for Thornhill
• His Excellency Armen Yeganian – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Canada
• Mirza Ismail – Chairman, Yezidi Human Rights Organization-International
• Jennifer Breedon – Legal Analyst, The Clarion Project
• Rev. Majed El Shafie – President & Founder, OFWI

Tune in now to watch Celebrating Freedom: An evening to champion the rescue of the Yazidi people

Posted by One Free World International on Saturday, 10 December 2016

Canadian Government failing genocide victims

Dear friends, We need your help to speak up for Yazidi genocide victims.

Today we learned the Government of Canada's plan to help Yazidi genocide victims is to resettle 50 people to Canada. This failure of leadership is unacceptable.

OFWI has helped rescue over 400 women and girls from ISIS ' slavery over the past two years and the government can do more.

We have been to the refugee camps in Northern Iraq and the need for action to help these people, victims of genocide, by offering new hope of life in Canada is a call our govenrment needs to answer.

The Leader of Opposition Rona Ambrose in the House of Commons called the government’s plan “a token effort.”

Germany was able to rescue 1,000 Yazidi genocide victims, and Canada was able to rescue 25,000 Syrian civil war victims, surely we can do more for the Yazidi women and girls once held captive as ISIS sex slaves and their families.

OFWI is ready to do more, but we need your help to pressure the government to do more.

Here is how you can TAKE ACTION:

• Write an email or call your local Member of Parliament to tell them Canada can do more for Yazidi victims of genocide. Don’t know who to contact? Find out here.

• Email or call the Minister of Immigration, John McCallum at 613-954-1064

• Email Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or call his office at 613-995-0253

• Please donate to support our work. It is only through your help that we are able to continue our work.

Thank you for your support and spreading awareness of these important issues. We couldn't do our work with you.

Sincerely, Rev. Majed El Shafie President & Founder One Free World International