CANADA: AIR CANADA MUST PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE FOR RACIST TREATMENT OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CANADA’S SECRETARY GENERAL

It’s outrageous and unacceptable that Air Canada have refused to allow Ketty Nivyabandi to board her flight, despite her meeting all the legal requirements to travel to Mexico

On Thursday 30 March, Air Canada staff denied Ketty Nivyabandi, the Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada’s English-speaking section, permission to board a flight from Ottawa to Mexico City, without justification. Ketty Nivyabandi is a permanent resident of Canada and holds a refugee passport, the only two legal requirements that Mexican authorities have confirmed are necessary to enter Mexico.

In response, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, said: 

“It’s outrageous and unacceptable that Air Canada have refused to allow Ketty Nivyabandi to board her flight, despite her meeting all the legal requirements to travel to Mexico. Air Canada staff at the Ottawa airport treated Ketty in a discriminatory and racist manner, humiliating her and preventing her from participating in an important human rights conference at her destination. We demand a public apology from the airline and reparation for the harm caused, which must include immediately issuing her a new ticket to fly as soon as possible.”