Friday, March 25, 2005
Deserter loses immigration ruling
Jax
A former US soldier who quit the army in protest against the Iraq war has been denied refugee status in Canada.
Jeremy Hinzman, 26, was the first to receive an answer from a number of US deserters seeking Canadian residency.
Mr Hinzman, who served in Afghanistan in a non-combat role, left the 82nd Airborne Regiment when he was deployed to Iraq.
Correspondents say the decision may affect eight other ex-servicemen, but improve Canadian-US relations.
In its judgement Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board said Mr Hinzman had not convinced its members that he would face persecution if he were sent back to the US.
Board member Brian Goodman wrote in the judgement: "The treatment does not amount to a violation of a fundamental human right, and the harm is not serious."
The ruling did not come as a surprise, the BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto says.
While Canada opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq, officials are aware that accusing Washington of persecuting its own citizens would cause an international diplomatic incident, our correspondent says. (More)
