Canada Bars French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan

A French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament was denied entry to Canada just days before she was set to attend conferences in Montreal, prompting accusations of political censorship from her supporters and praise from advocacy groups opposed to her visit.

Rima Hassan, who represents France's La France Insoumise party in the European Parliament, announced the decision on social media platform X late Friday. Her electronic travel authorization, initially approved by Canadian authorities, was revoked hours before her scheduled flight. According to a statement from her party, border officials cited her alleged failure to disclose a prior visa refusal or denial of entry to another country, along with an alleged criminal offense, arrest, indictment or conviction. Hassan described the move as a "troubling obstacle to parliamentary action and freedom of expression," adding that she would deliver her remarks remotely during the events scheduled for Monday and Tuesday evenings.

The conferences, organized in Montreal, were to focus on the suppression of pro-Palestinian voices and the rise of far-right movements. Hassan's party maintains that the revocation stems from her previous...