Last week, Canada’s immigration tribunal granted refugee status to Brandon Huntley, a white South African who claimed he was being persecuted back home because of his colour. Now, South Africa’s ruling party says that move was racist. And the allegation has made international headlines. “Canada’s reasoning for granting Huntley a refugee status can only serve to perpetuate racism,” an African National Congress statement explained, dismissing Huntley’s claims of being attacked seven times as “sensational and alarming.”
The Immigration and Refugee Board declined to comment, citing privacy provisions. But tribunal panel chair William Davis was quoted as saying, “I find that the claimant would stand out like a ‘sore thumb’ due to his colour in any part of the country.”