Zain Haq
NationalityPakistani
CitizenshipCanada
Alma materSimon Fraser University
Organizations
Known forClimate activism

Zain Haq is a Pakistani climate activist based in Canada. He has been arrested ten times due to his practicing civil disobedience. He has also lost his student visa and is facing deportation.[1][2] [3]

Biography

Haq is originally from Karachi, in Pakistan, where he began his climate activism by raising funds for the victims of the 2013 Pakistan–Afghanistan floods.[4] In 2019, he moved to Canada to study economics at Simon Fraser University, in British Columbia. He joined local branches of several environmental groups, including Extinction Rebellion and Save Old Growth.[5]

In November 2021, Simon Fraser University announced that it would be divesting from fossil fuels after a group of students including Haq threatened a hunger strike.[6]

He aims to publicize the effects of climate change and the government's lack of action to prevent the escalating of problems. He has appealed to older people, arguing:[3]

Pensions and health care depend on avoiding societal collapse. You have seen the human death and damage to the economy caused by single events like heat domes, fires and floods. We are trying to save what you hold dear. Join us.

Haq has been arrested multiple times in relation with his climate activism. In September 2021, he was arrested for blocking tree clearing for the Trans Mountain pipeline, being sentenced to 14 days imprisonment for criminal contempt of court.[5] In October 2021, he was arrested after taking part in a demonstration blocking the main road to the Vancouver International Airport, being sentenced to 6 days imprisonment and two months of house arrest.[4]

In connection with his arrests for his climate activism, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is seeking to deport Haq, which would make him one of the first cases in Canadian history of a climate activist being deported.[4][7] In June 2022, the CBSA issue a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of violating his student visa and ordering him to leave Canada voluntarily.[8] His student visa has been revoked..[9]

References

  1. ↑ McCarthy, Joe (15 February 2022). "This Climate Activist Is Going to Prison. And He's Ready to Go Back as Often as It Takes". Global Citizens. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "B.C. climate protester sentenced for mischief, breach". Vancouver Is Awesome. 2023-07-06. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  3. 1 2 Lane, Patricia (2022-02-07). "Zain Haq willing to go to jail if it helps save the planet". Canada's National Observer. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  4. 1 2 3 Fu, Jessica (31 October 2023). "He Devoted His Life to the Climate Movement. Now It Could Get Him Deported". The Nation. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 Ballard, Joel (27 October 2022). "On the line: These activists risked their freedom to inspire action on the climate crisis". CBC News. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Smith, Charlie (15 November 2021). "Rebel for life: SFU student Zain Haq makes a case that only peaceful civil disobedience can stave off climate breakdown". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Web, Peak (January 23, 2023). "SFSS Council protests student facing deportation". The Peak.
  8. ↑ Baker, Rochelle (21 June 2022). "Save Old Growth organizer turns himself in to Canada Border Services Agency". The National Observer. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  9. ↑ "Extinction Rebellion protester handed 7-day jail sentence, also facing CBSA removal order". British Columbia. 2023-07-13. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
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