A transgender Syrian refugee says she has been stranded at a Turkish airport for seven months after a Canadian diplomat claimed she underwent gender reassignment surgery in a bid to gain access to the country.
Canada had initially granted Arwa Almsrawi refugee status after the nation received a referral from the UN Refugee Agency.
But during her trip to her new homeland, she ran into trouble at the Istanbul airport, learning that she was on the United States’ “No Fly List” and eventually having her refugee status revoked.
Almsrawi, a transgender woman, originally fled her war-torn home country of Syria and found temporary refuge in Saudi Arabia, where she lived for more than a decade.
But she had no legal status in Saudi Arabia, depriving her of the ability to work legally.
Canada had previously granted Arwa Almsrawi refugee status after the nation received a referral from the UN Refugee Agency.
When Almsrawi began his journey to Canada, where he finally hoped to “be a full human being,” he ran into trouble at the Istanbul airport.
When Almsrawi’s transfer to Canada, where she finally hoped to “be a full human being,” was approved, she was notified at the Istanbul airport.
She was prevented from boarding her flight to Toronto and officials informed the Syrian refugee that she was on the United States’ no-fly list.
Canadian immigration officials then rejected Almsrawi’s asylum claim with minimal explanation.
It’s unclear why his name appears on the US no-fly list, but in a letter from the Canadian government, the inclusion appears to be a factor in his rejection decision.
The document, which described why she had been stripped of her refugee status, did not contain any particular accusation against Almsrawi, but acknowledged that her presence on the No-Fly List was a factor in its final verdict, saying it introduced “unknowables.”
“These ‘unknowables’, in my opinion, make the risk to the safety of the Canadian public too great, and this to me outweighs their vulnerable circumstances,” the letter said.
After American officials intervened, Canadian immigration officials rejected Almsrawi’s asylum claim with minimal explanation.
US authorities prevented her from boarding her flight to Toronto, informing the Syrian refugee that she was on their no-fly list.
He said he doesn’t know why his name would be included, while Erin Simpson, Almsrawi’s lawyer, has argued that the Canadian government has not presented any evidence that they are actually investigating whether or not her client’s name appears on the list.
“Arwa is a very common name,” Simpson observed when toronto staradding that many members of Almsrawi’s family share the same first and last name.
Almsrawi and Simpson are now challenging Canada’s decision in federal court, although it is currently unclear when their case will be heard.
Now, Almsrawi has accused Canadian immigration officials of transphobic discrimination.
After being stuck at the Istanbul airport for two months, she was interviewed by a Canadian diplomat based in the United Arab Emirates, who then revoked her refugee status.
Almsrawi alleged that the government official was hostile and aggressive towards her, the toronto star reported.
Almsrawi alleged that the government official was hostile and aggressive towards her.
She claims that the diplomat accused her of changing her gender to gain access to Canada.
“You did what you did to your body to get into Canada,” the diplomat said, according to Almsrawi’s affidavit.
It has been seven months since he arrived at Istanbul airport in a state of legal limbo, which his lawyer described as “Kafkaesque.”
Almsrawi fears she will be forced to return to Syria, but struggles to find admission to another country.
“No country is willing to accept me,” he told the Star. “I have nowhere to go.”
In an interview with a psychiatrist, Alsmrawi revealed that she has attempted suicide twice since she was stranded at the airport.
Canadian officials recently told him he will no longer receive food or other accommodations starting October 2.
She then claimed that the diplomat accused her of becoming transgender to gain access to Canada.
In a statement to Stara spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada defended its reputation.
“Canada has a proud history of protecting and resettling those who need it most, including 2SLGBTQI+ REFUGEES and their families,” the spokesperson said.