A French pro-Palestinian activist and far-left politician says she was refused entry to Canada after her travel permit was revoked on the eve of her trip.
Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament from the La France Insoumise party, said she was scheduled to speak at two conferences in Montreal expected to be attended by more than 1,600 people, and that her entry permit for the trip had been approved. Then she received an email informing her of a “sudden” review the day before her flight.
The decision was “a worrying hindrance to parliamentary activity and freedom of expression,” she told her more than one million Instagram followers.
Hassan, who has Palestinian roots, has become a polarizing figure in France. In particular, she has sparked backlash for her statements, including describing the 2023 Hamas attacks as “legitimate” from an international law perspective.
“As part of my mandate as a member of the European Parliament, I have been invited to speak at two conferences in Montreal,” she wrote on Instagram, saying the events would focus on alleged efforts to censor pro-Palestinian voices and opposition to the rise of the far right.
Canadian authorities cited lapses related to a previous denial of entry to Israel and also allegations of criminal behavior, she said on social media. Hassan noted that the allegations were related to her activism and did not result in a conviction.
She said Israel’s refusal affected an entire delegation “for no good reason” and described complaints about “glorification of terrorism” as attempts to silence pro-Palestinian voices.
Hassan also accused the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs of working to block her visit.
“However, I will be holding both conferences remotely,” she said.
Hassan’s posts have since been viewed hundreds of thousands of times across various social media platforms.
Quebec solidarity politician Haroun Bouazzi, who had reportedly planned a meeting with Hassan along with fellow politician Ruba Ghazal, criticized the decision. In an Instagram post, he wrote: “The true cancel culture is the one imposed by those in power on those who speak the truth in the face of authority.”
In a statement, the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs said the move to ban her visit “shows the importance of vigilance to prevent extremists from abroad from spreading hatred and incitement within our borders.”
The organization had previously criticized her planned visit, accusing her of glorifying “violence, terrorism and anti-Semitism.”
She had warned that her appearance in Montreal would provide a platform for views that she said would contribute to polarization.
The Canada Border Services Agency did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
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I write for the Montreal Gazette, covering the biggest stories I can find (and sometimes tennis too). I studied economics and computer science at McGill University. I now live in the plateau of the city, where I can never keep up with the fashion trends of the hipsters on the sidewalks. I wear Doc Martens to look inconspicuous. If you have a story tip or just want to chat over an espresso, write to me at hnorth@postmedia.com
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