MONTREAL - The families who sheltered U.S. fugitive Edward Snowden in Hong Kong need to be brought to Canada immediately while the country processes their asylum claims, their lawyers said Monday.
Hong Kong-based attorney Robert Tibbo said Canada needs to take this "exceptional" step and allow the seven people to enter the country after the Hong Kong government rejected their asylum applications last Friday.
The seven people - four adults and their three children - allegedly helped hide Snowden when the fugitive was in the region in 2013 after he leaked documents revealing extensive U.S. government surveillance.
They were put in contact with Snowden because they share Tibbo as a lawyer.
Speaking from Hong Kong through a video conference, surrounded by the seven refugee applicants, Tibbo told reporters they have two weeks to appeal the decision or risk deportation to their countries of origin, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, where they fear for their safety.
A non-profit group is attempting to raise the estimated $15,000 to cover the appeals.
There is little chance their appeals will be successful, however, Tibbo said.
"The solution is Canada," he said, adding the country is one of a handful of jurisdictions that permit a review of refugee applications from people who haven't been screened by the United Nations.
More:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/families-who-sheltered-fugitive-snowden-looking-for-fast-track-asylum-to-canada-1.3414441
