OFWI Testifies at Canadian House of Commons Immigration Committee

Resettling Syrian Refugees in Canada

OFWI President and Founder Majed El Shafie testified in Ottawa calling on Canada to do more to help the most vulnerable minorities who are victims of the war in Iraq and Syria.

Testifying before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, Rev. El Shafie presented OFWI's report Resettling Syrian Refugees in Canada and petition with 800 signatures calling on the Canadian government to do more.

5 recommendations were made:

1. Solve the underlying problem as the source of the refugee crisis
2. Create Green Zones: safe and secure zones near their home
3. Greater involvement from countries in the region to resettle refugees
4. Prioritize the most vulnerable: minorities who often cannot access mainstream refugee supports and appropriate security screening for those welcomed to Canada.
5. Ensure the proper community supports are in place to ensure integration of refugees who come to Canada into Canadian society.

Read OFWI's Report: Resettling Syrian Refugees in Canada

Recognize ISIS' genocide of Christians, Yazidis & Minorities

Canada must recognize ISIS atrocities against Yazidis & Christians as genocide; follow US, EU, & UK allies

For immediate release: May 3, 2016

OTTAWA – Canada has a proud history as a voice of moral clarity in global affairs. It must use that voice to call the atrocities and war crimes being perpetrated against Christian and Yazidi communities in Iraq and Syria by ISIS for what it is: genocide.

At a news conference on Parliament Hill Yazidi human rights activist Dalal Abdallah and OFWI President & Founder Rev. Majed El Shafie called on parliamentarians to follow the lead of the US, EU, and UK in recognizing the genocide ISIS is carrying out against minorities in Iraq and Syria.

ISIS continues to target Christians, Yazidis, and other minorities, enslaving or killing those who are in its destructive path. Their systemic effort to rid the region of religious and cultural diversity demands the strongest condemnation from the global community.

UN Convention on Genocide

The UN Convention on Genocide defines genocide as “acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

1. Killing members of the group;
2. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
3. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
4. Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
5. Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.’’

The U.S. Congress, UK Parliament, and European Parliament have voted to recognize this genocide and the Obama administration has done the same. OFWI calls on the Parliament of Canada to recognize ISIS’ actions for what it is and join the international community in recognizing this genocide. Canada should do more to stop those perpetrating these crimes and bring those responsible to justice.

Rescuing former ISIS sex slaves

Working with partners in Canada and the region, OFWI has put forth a proposal that would bring 400 former sex slaves abused by ISIS to Canada with their families as refugees. OFWI would welcome the support of the Government of Canada to see this proposal implemented and it would be a way for Canada to do more in helping the most vulnerable minorities facing horrific crimes in Iraq and Syria.

Appendix:

• OFWI Proposal to bring 400 former ISIS sex slaves as refugees to Canada
• EU Parliament Motion
• US Congress Motion
• UK Parliament Resolution

OFWI Ukraine Mission Report

Rev. Majed El Shafie led an One Free World International mission to Ukraine on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. OFWI met with government officials, Ukraine's Chief Rabbi, NGOs, and visited wounded soldiers to learn about the challenges on the frontline of the war. One of the organizations OFWI met is People Help The People. PHTP is an online platform of targeted assistance to disabled family members of the deceased or missing person as a result of the tragic events on the Maidan and military operations in eastern Ukraine. These people are most vulnerable: minor children, the elderly, the disabled, young mothers with children under three years old. Read more about them at: https://lpl.com.ua/en

You can see some of the photos from the mission on OFWI's facebook page.

Medical Supplies Needed in Syria

One Free World International and Food for the Hungry Canada are partnering for an important mission. We need to raise $35,000 for needed medical supplies to support field hospitals for victims of ISIS. Can you donate $7, $35, or $200 to help us reach our goal?

Pray For Pakistan

Innocent Christians Attacked Celebrating Easter in Lahore, Pakistan

Innocent Christians celebrating Easter in a park in Lahore, Pakistan were attacked by the Taliban on Easter Sunday. The gruesome bombing killed 76 people and injured 300 others.

One Free World International calls on the Pakistani government to bring the perpetrators and their accomplices to justice, do more to combat terrorism, and protect the rights and liberties of religious minorities in Pakistan.

Speaking about this gruesome terrorist attack, Rev. El Shafie joined CTV News Channel to discuss the attack and calls for action.