The Canadian Jewish Congress protested in a letter sent today to the Canadian External Affairs Department against the practice of the Canadian High Commissioner in London validating certificates of Canadians seeking entry to Arab countries that the applicants were not of Jewish origin or were of the Christian faith.
In his letter to External Affairs Secretary Allan MacEachen, Alan Rose. CJC executive director, declared that the practice was “obviously discriminating” against Canadian Jews and that the GIC was “very much concerned” that Canadian representatives in London participated in a practice repeatedly condemned by Prime Minister Elliott Trudeau and one which is “abhorrent to all Canadians.”
Rose alto said in his letter, “clearly the action of the High Commissioner’s office in London can only, if unwittingly, assist Arab countries to deny Canadian citizens entry only because they are Jews.” He added that “it is absolutely unacceptable that any agency of the federal government should even unintentionally support or buttress anti-Semitic policies of a foreign state directed against Canadian citizens.”
Rose quoted a circular letter sent two months ago by the Canadian Council of Churches, which represents the Protestant community in Canada, recommending to member churches that they refrain from issuing baptismal certificates to travelers requesting them to obtain tourist or business visas for Arab countries because the requirement by the Arab countries of such a certificate constitutes discrimination against Jews.
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