Abdi Hersy, Calgary imam wanted on U.S. sex assault charges, granted new review

Calgary imam wanted on sex charges in U.S., to stay in Canada

A Calgary imam facing criminal charges in the United States has launched a new bid to remain in Canada as a refugee.

​Abdi Hersy is wanted in the United States on sexual assault charges.

Earlier this year, the Immigration and Refugee Board revoked Hersy's protected status in Canada.

But on Thursday the Federal Court agreed to review the decision.

"Obviously, it's really important to Mr. Hersy, because a decision to take away someone's refugee status obviously has serious, serious consequences," said his lawyer Raj Sherma.

The Federal Court could let the decision to strip Hersy of his refugee status stand, or it could order yet another review, he said.

"The Federal Court says, 'Well, did the board do its job in an intelligible, justifiable way?' And if it did, they're not going to interfere in the decision," he said.

"But if they find that the deck was stacked against Mr. Hersy, for example, or if they find that there were these glaring errors, then they will send it back."

Hersy is accused of sexually assaulting two female patients while working as a respiratory therapist in Minnesota in 2006.

He lost his job and his licence soon after the reports surfaced. Then he crossed the border into Canada. Despite the charges, Hersy was granted protection as a Somalian refugee in 2008.

The Canadian Border Services Agency tried to strip him of that status two years ago, saying he had misrepresented himself.

The Immigration and Refugee Board agreed, but Hersy successfully appealed the decision in Federal Court.

"These are only allegations against him in the U.S.," said Sherma.

Hersy has been a vocal advocate for Alberta's large Somali-Canadian community and has called for more government action to combat the radicalization of Muslim youth.

In 2010, Hersy went to Minnesota and surrendered at the sheriff's office, but when he was released on bail, U.S. immigration officials deported him back to Canada.

The new hearing will be held on Jan. 12, 2016.