Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament representing La France Insoumise, has been barred from entering Canada for two scheduled conferences on March 30 and 31, 2026. This decision has sparked significant controversy, with implications for parliamentary action and freedom of expression.
The Canadian authorities initially authorized Hassan’s travel but later opened a review of her request, leading to the denial. Hassan described this obstruction as a worrying infringement on her rights as a parliamentarian.
Critics have accused Hassan of antisemitism and glorification of terrorism, citing her previous statements supporting Hamas actions as “legitimate.” French lawyer Richard Malka characterized her political trajectory as a “left of darkness,” further intensifying the scrutiny surrounding her.
In 2019, Hassan founded the Observatory of Refugee Camps, advocating for Palestinian rights. However, her involvement in humanitarian flotillas and solidarity actions has drawn ire, particularly from organizations like the Centre consultatif des relations juives et israéliennes (CIJA), which has called for the denunciation of her visit to Canada.
Compounding the controversy, eight members of the Jeune Garde militia were implicated in a violent assault linked to an event attended by Hassan, raising alarms about her associations. The alleged victim in this incident was just 15 years old.
Hassan’s party has pointed out that she has faced denied entry to other states without resulting convictions for glorifying terrorism, suggesting that the current situation may be politically motivated.
The planned forums in Canada were intended to address resistance to the far right and solidarity movements. However, opponents argue that inviting Hassan normalizes extremist rhetoric.
The remote conferences will proceed as scheduled, and stakeholders on all sides are expected to issue further statements in the coming days. Details remain unconfirmed.