MONTRÉAL — A French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament says she was denied entry into Canada solely days earlier than she was scheduled to take part in conferences in Montreal.
Rima Hassan wrote on-line that she was “prevented” from coming to Canada in what she described as an try at censorship.
The far-left France Unbowed celebration mentioned in a press release that Hassan’s digital journey authorization was initially authorised by Canadian authorities earlier than being revoked on Friday.
The assertion says Canadian authorities allege she did not disclose a earlier visa refusal or denial of entry in addition to an alleged legal offence, arrest, indictment or conviction.
The celebration believes the refusal stems from Hassan being beforehand denied entry to Israel, in addition to complaints towards her that they are saying are linked to her vocal pro-Palestinian stance and criticism of Israel.
Canada Border Providers Company has not but responded to a request for remark.
The assertion by Hassan’s celebration mentioned she was anticipated to attend a convention on the suppression of pro-Palestinian voices and one other on the rise of the far proper. Hassan mentioned she is going to nonetheless attend and ship her remarks on-line.
“I used to be prevented from touring to Canada: a troubling impediment to parliamentary motion and freedom of expression,” she wrote on X.
“Regardless of all the pieces, I’ll maintain my two conferences remotely on Monday and Tuesday night, which is able to give me the chance to talk out towards this try at censorship.”
NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice informed The Canadian Press he discovered the sudden reversal by Canadian authorities to be “suspicious.”
“It appears they need to impose a political punishment on Rima Hassan for her very sturdy, very agency, and really clear positions on Palestinian points, the query of the genocide in Gaza, and the query of ethnic cleaning within the West Financial institution,” he mentioned in an interview late Saturday. “That is extraordinarily suspicious, and we worry it’s a political determination by Mark Carney’s Liberal authorities to forestall the go to of somebody who may ‘fire up controversy.’”
Boulerice famous there was sturdy opposition to Hassan’s go to from teams together with the Canadian Institute for Jewish and Israeli Affairs, or CIJA.
Québec solidaire legislature member Andrés Fontecilla referred to as on Ottawa to elucidate the explanations behind the choice.
“If Ms. Hassan was certainly barred from getting into Canada due to her political opinions, this could pose a significant issue of censorship and lift actual issues for democratic debate and the free trade of concepts,” he mentioned in an e mail.
The Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith praised the Canadian authorities’ determination and mentioned it had offered info to the CBSA.
“Thanks to @CanBorder for appearing with such velocity and willpower,” The group wrote on X Saturday night. “Canada isn’t a platform for many who justify terrorism, glorify violence, and deny Jewish historical past.” CIJA additionally praised the choice to disclaim Hassan entry, however criticized the truth that the conferences would nonetheless happen.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 29, 2026.
Quentin Dufranne, The Canadian Press