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Justin Trudeau Defends Minister Monsef Over Iranian-afghan Nationality Flap

The Canadian Press, 03 Nov, 2016 01:30 PM

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his minister of democratic institutions in a flap over her country of birth.

Maryam Monsef said in September she recently found out she was born in Iran and not in Afghanistan as her mother had always told her.

That prompted some people, including former Conservative MP Tony Clement, to say she should step down from her position pending an inquiry into her citizenship application.

Trudeau says people are trying to score political points by wading into the debate.

He told a news conference in Ottawa today the situation of people who flee war zones is often very complex and that they don't always know which side of the border they were born on.

Trudeau says Monsef's case is very different from those of people who lie or choose to not divulge information so they can get into Canada.

Certain refugee-rights groups say the federal government has revoked the citizenship of some people who are in a position similiar to Monsef's.

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