Daljit, originally an immigrant from the Sikh region of India, is a New Zealand citizen. Just before Christmas he flew to Canada for a two-week holiday to visit family and friends. He was detained at the Vancouver airport and questioned by immigration officials and two members of the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service.

"They asked me if I was involved with terrorism," Daljit said. "I explained to them that I have no record of criminal activity anywhere, and have visited Canada before with no problems." Despite having no information of any kind against him, he was told he was "a danger to the Canadian public," and held in custody for seven days in degrading conditions. He was strip-searched. "It was cold in that detention center," he said, "but they only gave me back my underwear. They wouldn't give me a blanket, or let me wear my turban. I didn't eat for three days because they only offered me meals with meat." (Like most Sikhs, Daljit is a vegetarian.)

He was able to contact a lawyer he knew in Canada, and New Zealand government representatives who supplied references. Canadian immigration authorities still refused to let him enter the country, and at a hearing before a judge they applied to keep him in detention while they "gathered more information."

But with most of his holidays already gone, Daljit chose to return to New Zealand. Together with his lawyer he is now seeking to establish that the Canadian government has no evidence against him, with the intention of preparing a claim for compensation.

Terry Coggan
Auckland, New Zealand.

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