Background and Detailed Chronology of Ernst Zundel Persecution STATUS IN CANADA Ernst Zundel was born in Germany on April 24, 1939. At the age of nineteen he entered Canada for permanent residence on September 2, 1958. On January 25, 1968, he applied for Canadian citizenship. He was informed that the application had been rejected by the Minister without reasons by letter dated August 27, 1968. He was told only that: "The information on whic h the decision was based is confidential and it would not be in the public interes t to reveal it." He applied in 1988 under the Privacy Actiox the reason why his application for citizenship was refused. This application for information was unsuccessful and is currently under appeal to the Federal Court of Canada. Zundel applied for Canadian citizenship a second time on October 24, 1993. This application resulted in a Ministerial report pursuant to s. 19(2) fro m the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada which alleged that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Zundel would engage in activity that constitutes a threat to the security of Canada. This opinion was based on information and advice provided by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service which alleged that the activities Zundel will engage in are described in s. 2(a) of theCSISAct. In a column published July 27, 1994, Toronto Sun writer Christie Blatchford revealed that Zundel had applied for citizenship and that the Canadian Jewish Congress had been aware "for some time" of the application. Blatchford wondered how the privacy laws did not prevent the CJC from being told by the government of Zundel's application. She quoted an official from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration as stating: "The government is going to try very hard to deny it." B'nai Brith issued a statement that Zundel did not deserve citizenship and should be extradited to Germany instead. "This man does not deserve the privilege of Canadian citizenship. Not only would this be an affront to minority communities throughout Canada, but it would send a message to hatemongers the world over that Canada is a haven for racism." (Montreal Gazette, July 28, 1994) The Canadian Jewish Congress stated that Zundel should not receive citizenship because of his convictions in Germany and because he was under investigation in Canada for promoting hatred. He indicated that the CJC had again requested that charges be laid against Zundel. (Canadian Jewish News, August 4, 1994) PERSONAL BACKGROUND Zundel's personal history in Canada was reviewed accurately in a presentence report prepared after his first "false news" conviction in 1985 by Probation and Parole Officer Karl Nicolson:
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