Ousted Tunisian president's family members arrive in Canada

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Montreal’s  Le Journal de Quebec has confirmed that Tunisia’s ousted Muslim president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali family members arrived in Montreal this week, eventually looking to settle in the tony district of Westmount. It is said the billionaire Sakher El Materi brother-in-law of Ben Ali arrived with his wife Nesrine Ben Ali, who is the president's daughter, their children and governess in tow on a private jet.  Recently the brother in law and his wife purchased a 3 million dollar (Can funds) villa two years ago and is now currently undergoing renovations.

Tunisia’s president Zine El abidine Ben Ali who was ousted recently amid corruption charges fled to Saudi Arabia. Ben Ali and family members tried unsuccessfully to find haven in various european countries, including France.

The ouster of the president and his family members from Tunisia was the result of  23 years of corruption charges, since taking over from the previous president  Habib Bourguiba in 1986 who was deemed mentally unfit to rule.

Soon a change began as it is said Ben Ali and members of his family enjoyed the life of a dictator style of governance using Tunisia’s treasury as their personal ATM.

 The impoverished people of Tunisia, suffering under poverty, freedom of speech, saw elitists  taking over resulting in one case a elitist group of Lawyers were beaten by citizens, in the streets of Tunisia.

As riots became nation wide the Tunisian military was called in to stem the tide of riots and civil disobedience, soon  sparked the Jasmine Revolution by the citizenry, said to be named after the country’s state flower.

Accusations revealed that president Ben Ali, his family members, including his extended family members plundered government resources of untold millions of dollars during his 23 years of authoritarian reign. 

There is also a report that France accused Ben Ali’s family members of stealing two large super yachts from a France shipyard, sailing them to Tunisia. Charges of theft by the French government were ignored by president Ben Ali.

 Tunisia, once a French protectorate until independence in the mid 1950s is governed by parliamentary rule, maintains French as a second language, with Arabic as the primary language has endeared Tunisia with the European Union as a moderate Muslim country and a go between in Mid East talks concering Israel.

Tunisia whose stance maintains close ties with both the European Union and Israel also maintains a moderately large Jewish enclave in Tunisia.

Newly appointed president Fouad Mebazaa of the Constitutional Democratic Rally (CDR) party may have his work cut out for him as the majority of Tunisia citizens are calling for an Islamic Caliphate to replace Tunisia’s current government CDR.

There will be interesting times ahead for Tunisians if an Islamic Caliphate becomes the majority rule, certainly an end of a moderate Muslim stance which has existed for decades, most likely eroding ties with the European Union and Israel.

One question remains, if European countries refused landing priveleges for Ben Ali’s family members to flee to the safety of these countries, how come Ben Ali's family members can fly into Canada on a private jet into a Montreal airport on diplomatic passes?  Must be nice Ben Ali and all his family members can be issued diplomatic passes, though they are all charged with financial crimes on the world stage can finally find  Canada as a refuge and not be stopped from entering by immigration Canada, especially when it is clear they intend to live in Canada.  

Though the family members face persecution if sent back to Tunisia, the Billionaire family will certainly not be in danger as it is clear they have the financial resources to live elsewhere in the world.

Many Canadians wonder how Ben Ali's family members can just walk into Canada, perhaps Immigration Canada were on their dinner break?

Yet, when Canadians state Canada’s  loose open door policy on immigration can be had by hook or by crook are continually told by Government officials this is not the case, seems contrary to what just happened this week, don’t you think?

Many remember the outrage by the newly minted Islamic Caliphate in Iran when in 1980 the Shah of Iran and his family sought and were given sanctuary in the United States.  Many remember the result of Iranian citizens and the Iran hostage crisis where 52 US. Citizens were held hostage by Iranians for 444 days.  A displeasure not forgotten by Iran, nor the United States to this day. 

Perhaps Canadian officials should scrutinize accused criminals of dictatorial regimes more closely who they let into Canada, lest we relive a similar fate as our American neighbours by an unstable country who may feel Canada condones giving refuge to those it deems criminal.

Canadians will take a wait and see attitude in how our Canadian government will handle this immigration fiasco, unlike Montrealers who have already taken to the streets demanding the Bin Ali family members removal from Canadian soil.