Johanne Doyon a lawyer to Leon Mugesera, the Rwanda 1994 Tutsi genocide suspect has made a last-ditch legal plea to keep him on Canadian soil.
The lawyer argued on Mugesera’s behalf, seeking a judicial review and a delay of Thursday’s scheduled expulsion of the client.
Doyon has been on the case since mid-December and called Ottawa’s decision rushed and without proper due diligence for Mugesera’s safety.
Doyon argued that a refugee claimant like Mugesera should not be deported unless he’s been convicted or is a threat to Canada.
“But this is not the case for Léon Mugesera. He has not been convicted. He has not had access to a fair and equitable trial in front of his peers and in front of justice,” Doyon said.
She said the Canadian Charter of Rights, as well as international treaties, should protect him from deportation in light of his status as a refugee.
Doyon also said that the Canadian government is wrong to accept diplomatic assurances from the Rwandan government that Mugesera won’t be harmed.
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