West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky member of Parliament John Weston became the first Canadian MP in recent memory to visit Iraq when he accompanied One Free World International's Rev. Majed El Shafie as an observer on a human rights mission last week.
The trip was paid for by OFWI, a Canadian international human rights organization that focuses on securing the rights of religious minorities around the world, without regard to religion or creed. Ontario Senator Don Meredith also participated.
The mandate of the delegation was to discuss the human rights violations in Iraq and to open bridges of communication with Canada. High level meetings were arranged with The vice president of Iraq, Iraq's vice Prime Minister, President of the Iraqi parliament, Minister of Human Rights, Minister of the Environment and Head of Iraq's Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs. In addition, the delegation met with Iraqi refugees and spoke with victims of last October's vicious attack at Church of Our Lady of Salvation.
"The most surprising aspect of the trip was the degree to which senior Iraqi authorities opened the door to discussion of freedom of conscience," Weston said. "Other freedoms typically follow freedom of conscience. Iraq suffers from a denial of basic freedoms, the security situation remains perilous, and factional conflict creates fear and distrust. But Canada's economic aid, its peaceful approach to engaging Iraqis, and the large number of refugees welcomed to our shores in recent years have made Iraqi leaders receptive to our message on human rights. They also open the door to greater commercial, diplomatic, and political engagement.
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