Ottawa revokes permanent resident status of Tunisian ruler’s son in-law

The Canadian government has reportedly revoked the permanent-resident status of the billionaire brother-in-law of deposed Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Belhassen Trabelsi, who arrived in Canada with his family last week, had his status revoked Thursday, according to Radio-Canada, because he did not meet specific residency conditions, including that requiring him to have stayed in Canada for two years over a five-year period. Trabelsi is the reputed leader of a family that ran much of Tunisia’s economy with an iron fist. His sister, Leila, married Tunisia’s then-president in the 1990s. Trabelsi, who is currently holed up in a hotel west of Montreal, is apparently considering applying for refugee status after Tunisia’s transition government issued an international warrant for his arrest.

Radio Canada