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Abdelkader Belaouni, a blind refugee claimant who spent almost four years in a Pointe-St-Charles church to avoid deportation, is now a Canadian citizen.

Belaouni, who lost his sight in a soccer accident at age 23, claimed refugee status in Canada in 2003, but was rejected the following year.

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He fled his native Algeria for the United States in 1996, but came to Canada to avoid deportation.

On Jan. 1, 2006, he sought sanctuary in St. Gabriel’s Church, only emerging in October 2009 when the government granted him permanent-resident status.

During his long confinement, supporters staged rallies and concerts, created a portable mural and filmed a documentary to publicize his plight.

While at the church, Belaouni hosted radio broadcasts on McGill University’s CKUT, learned to play the piano, guitar and flute, recorded two albums and wrote two books — a memoir and a volume on Algerian history.