Rapists can get refugee status

Photo from the Odyssey Showgirls Lounge website

   Here's a relatively recent and rather shocking story that seems to have gone un(der?)reported. One month ago a decision was rendered in a case involving a refugee applicant named Hassan Ammar, 38. He is Lebanese but before living in Canada was living in Michigan where he allegedly attempted to rape a stripper in 2006.
   Here's exactly what Hassan Ammar is accused of doing: in November 2006 he went to the Odyssey Showgirls Lounge in Jackson Michigan and allegedly waited for a dancer named Klahn to leave the club, he followed her in his car to a convenience store and tracked her down and brought her to a room in the back of the store and attempted to force her to fellate him. He then attempted to penetrate her with his fingers, she resisted and fled and complained to police.
   Ammar was arrested and charged with criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree. Sounds serious but but according to 750.520e(1) of the Michigan Penal Code, it is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for two years or less, and/or a fine of $500 or less.
   Before the case could go to trial, Ammar fled to Windsor Ontario and applied for refugee status, claiming that he was at risk of attack by Lebanese political forces both in the U.S. and Lebanon.
   Canada's public security minister asked that Ammar not be considered for a refugee hearing, as he had allegedly committed a serious crime and fled his trial. However the refugee commission pointed out that his alleged sex attack was merely a misdemeanor under Michigan law.
   A judge named Scott heard both sides in August and on September 23 in Montreal sided with the commission. Nothing in the judgement makes reference to whether he has been accepted as a refugee or not, even though four years is quite a wait. So at the very least, Ammar will indeed be allowed to stay in Canada until his refugee hearing is heard.