John Weston, member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, visited Iraq recently to discuss human rights.
Weston, the first Canadian MP in recent memory to visit Iraq, accompanied the leader of One Free World International, Majed El Shafie, as an observer. The organization, a Canadian international human rights group that focuses on securing the rights of religious minorities around the world, paid for the trip.
The mandate of the delegation was to discuss the human rights violations in Iraq and to open bridges of communication with Canada. They met high-level officials including the vice-president and vice-prime minister of Iraq and the president of the Iraqi parliament. In addition, the delegation met with Iraqi refugees and spoke with victims of last October’s attack at Church of Our Lady of Salvation. Fifty-two people were killed when Iraqi security forces stormed the Catholic church in Baghdad to free dozens of hostages.
“The most surprising aspect of the trip was the degree to which senior Iraqi authorities opened the door to discussion of freedom of conscience,” Weston said following his return. “Other freedoms typically follow freedom of conscience. Iraq suffers from a denial of basic freedoms, the security situation remains perilous and factional conflict creates fear and distrust. But Canada’s economic aid, its peaceful approach to engaging Iraqis and the large number of refugees welcomed to our shores in recent years have made Iraqi leaders receptive to our message on human rights. They also open the door to greater commercial, diplomatic and political engagement.”
The delegation was in Iraq from September 6 to 15. While the country presents significant opportunities to promote human rights and economic development, Iraq is still a politically turbulent and dangerous place, said Weston, and travellers should be sure to make comprehensive security provisions. “I feel honoured to have visited Iraq and fortunate to have returned safely,” he said.
