Tunisian Fights to Stay in Canada The brother-in-law of ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is fighting a decision to revoke his permanent residency in Canada. Belhassen Trabelsi's lawyer says his client was not attending Monday's immigration hearing because he and his family feared for their safety. Federal lawyers had demanded an immediate rejection of his appeal because he wasn't attending, but that request was rejected. Trabelsi, the billionaire brother of former first lady Leila Trabelsi, arrived in Canada on a private jet as the regime was falling in January 2011. Canadian authorities moved to revoke his permanent residence status, but it remains valid pending his appeal. Trabelsi also applied for refugee status, which could keep him in Canada for years. Trabelsi has been sentenced in absentia in Tunisia for corruption and other crimes.