Montreal: Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian origin, announced late Saturday that she was denied entry to Canada just hours before her scheduled flight. This unexpected development has raised significant concerns regarding parliamentary work and freedom of expression. Hassan, who is associated with France’s left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI), voiced her frustration, stating that she was blocked from traveling to Canada, describing it as a troubling obstruction.
According to Anadolu Agency, Hassan had been invited to speak at two conferences in Montreal, and her initial electronic travel authorization was approved by Canadian authorities. However, she received an email late Friday, on the eve of her departure, indicating that her application was under review. This sudden reassessment led Canadian authorities to request extensive personal records just hours before her flight, a move Hassan described as disproportionate and unrelated to the stated grounds.
LFI reported that the review of Hassan’s entry cited an alleged failure to disclose a prior visa refusal or denial of entry to another country, along with an alleged failure to report a criminal offense, arrest, formal investigation, or conviction. The party stated that these issues are directly linked to her political engagement in support of the Palestinian people. Additionally, the concerns relate to a 2025 denial of entry to Israel involving an EU delegation that included Hassan, as well as complaints for ‘apology for terrorism’ that did not result in charges.
Furthermore, LFI claimed that pro-Israel lobbying organizations have been actively working to prevent Hassan’s visit to Canada. The party emphasized that the revocation of her travel authorization is part of a concerning trend of restricting the freedom of expression and movement of political representatives. This situation is seen as part of a broader pattern of censorship targeting democratic debate.
Representatives from LFI and Canada’s New Democratic Party have strongly condemned the decision, labeling it as a serious infringement on the exercise of a parliamentary mandate and on freedom of expression.