'I can't go back now' he says, as political firestorm rages in his homeland
In an exclusive interview with Sun Media Thursday, Brandon Huntley said he is reeling from the political firestorm his case has touched off in South Africa since a refugee board panel member granted him the right to stay in Canada due to “clear and convincing proof of the state’s inability or unwillingness to protect him.”
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White S. African refugee fears review of claim
By DONNA CASEY, SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 3rd September 2009, 1:39pm
OTTAWA - The white South African man granted Canadian refugee status based on his skin colour worries a possible judicial review could send him back to his native country.
In an exclusive interview with Sun Media Thursday, Brandon Huntley said he is reeling from the political firestorm his case has touched off in South Africa since a refugee board panel member granted him the right to stay in Canada due to “clear and convincing proof of the state’s inability or unwillingness to protect him.”
“I can’t go back now. I’m just hoping nothing goes wrong with all of that,” said the 31-year-old one-time carnival worker, referring to the request by the South African High Commission to launch a judicial review of the Aug. 27 ruling by refugee board member William Davis.
As first reported in the Sun, Huntley’s refugee case has sparked political and diplomatic uproar in South Africa. The ruling African
National Congress government slammed the refugee ruling as “racist”, “sensationalist” and “alarming.”
Davis granted refugee status to Huntley - who first came to Canada on a temporary work permit in 2004 - after determining that Huntley “would stand out like a ‘sore thumb’ due to his colour in any part of the country” and risked persecution.
Davis said Huntley’s case showed “a picture of indifference and inability or unwillingness of the government and the security forces to protect White South Africans from persecution from Black South Africans.”
Speaking from his home in the east-end of Ottawa Thursday, Huntley said he’s shocked that his case has ignited a political outcry from South African politicians and race-relations groups.
“I just don’t see how people can ignore it when it’s happening,” said Huntley of the violence he says white South Africans face from black South Africans.
Huntley told the refugee board he had been attacked seven times - including three stabbings - by black South Africans but didn’t report any of the incidents to police because he “did not trust them.”
Huntley’s story has made front-page headlines in newspapers around the world, with Huntley and his Ottawa lawyer Russell Kaplan getting bombarded with e-mails and media requests.
Huntley said he fears for the safety of his family who remain in South Africa.
“I guess it’s a little bit too late for that now,” said a rueful Huntley.
Source: Toronto Sun
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