Toronto (November 8, 2018) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) notes the latest update on the case of Helmut Oberlander. This week, Federal Court Judge Michael Phelan lifted a stay – a court order that suspends enforcement of a judgment – on his earlier decision to uphold the Canadian government’s revocation of Oberlander’s Canadian citizenship.

According to reports, Judge Phelan was required to “certify a serious question of general importance” in order to allow Oberlander to appeal the merits of the decision. On Wednesday, the judge rejected all of Oberlander’s arguments for certification, lifting the stay and dismissing judicial review.

Over the years, FSWC has followed the case of Oberlander, whose citizenship was revoked by the Government of Canada four times for misrepresenting his involvement with the Nazi death squad Einsatzkommando 10a.

“The Canadian government is now one step closer to finalizing the deportation of Oberlander, whose case has continued for far too long and may finally end with him facing justice,” said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. “It is a shame that Oberlander has maintained Canadian citizenship for so many years, enjoying a relatively normal life, and it is time to finally send a message that anyone who may have been involved in committing war crimes is not welcome in this country.”

This week’s decision will greatly limit the possibility of Oberlander taking the case to the Federal Court of Appeal.

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Media Contact:‍

Avital Borisovsky
Communications Associate
416.864.9735 x 29
aborisovsky@fswc.ca