| Zain Haq | |
| Nationality: | Pakistani |
| Citizenship: | Pakistan |
| Alma Mater: | Simon Fraser University |
| Organization: |
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| Known For: | Climate activism |
Zain Haq is a Pakistani climate activist based in Canada. He has been arrested ten times due to his practicing civil disobedience. He has also lost his student visa and is facing deportation.[1] [2] [3]
Haq is originally from Karachi, Pakistan, where the 12-year-old began his climate activism by raising funds for the victims of the 2013 Pakistan–Afghanistan floods. In 2019, he moved to Canada to study economics at Simon Fraser University, in British Columbia. He joined local branches of several environmental groups, including Extinction Rebellion and Save Old Growth.[4]
In November 2021, Simon Fraser University announced that it would be divesting from fossil fuels after a group of students including Haq threatened a hunger strike.[5]
He aims to publicize the effects of climate change and the government's lack of action to prevent the escalating of problems. He has appealed to older people, arguing:
Pensions and health care depend on avoiding societal collapse. You have seen the human death and damage to the economy caused by single events like heat domes, fires and floods. We are trying to save what you hold dear. Join us.Haq has been arrested multiple times in relation with his climate activism. In September 2021, he was arrested for blocking tree clearing for the Trans Mountain pipeline, being sentenced to 14 days imprisonment for criminal contempt of court.[4] In October 2021, he was arrested after taking part in a demonstration blocking the main road to the Vancouver International Airport, being sentenced to 6 days imprisonment and two months of house arrest.[6]
In connection with his arrests for his climate activism, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is seeking to deport Haq, which would make him one of the first cases in Canadian history of a climate activist being deported.[6] [7] In June 2022, the CBSA issue a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of violating his student visa and ordering him to leave Canada voluntarily.[8] His student visa has been revoked.[9]