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London Free Press, Canada
July 19 2004
'No place to go'
An immigration official says political changes in Iraq reduce the
risk to the Christian couple.
TEVIAH MORO, Free Press Reporter
2004-07-19 03:31:17
An Iraqi couple that has called London home for a decade must return
to their turbulent war-torn country, Immigration Canada says. After
10 years of red tape, immigration officials have told Krikor Stephan,
68, and his wife, Sagheek Alexanian, 65, they must return to Iraq.
But as Armenian Christians, the married couple faces certain
persecution in Iraq, said son-in-law Tom Sada.
"The Christians, now they are more in danger than when it was Saddam
in power," Sada said.
Sada, 38, an Assyrian Christian, fled Iraq in 1980 during the
Iran-Iraq war at the age of 14, and entered Canada as a refugee in
1985.
His wife Sylva Sada, 33, joined him in Canada in 1990, while her
parents fled Saddam Hussein's regime in 1994, hoping Immigration
Canada would grant them refugee status, Sada said.
Since then, Stephan and Alexanian have made three applications to
Immigration Canada and been rejected all three times, he said.
After about $6,000 in legal fees and application costs, the last
rejection came three weeks ago. Sada is waiting for another letter to
find out when Stephan and Alexanian will have to pack up and go.
"We will receive a letter from immigration to prepare," he said.
Sada, whose in-laws have helped raised his four children aged six to
12, said they have nowhere to go in Iraq.
Alexanian's brother, who lives in a town about 50 kilometres south of
Baghdad, faces persecution as a Christian, he said.
Three weeks ago, Alexanian tried to call him, but there was no
answer. A contact in Baghdad told her Christians had been driven out
of town by insurgents, Sada said.
"They sent flyers to their houses, saying all Christians must leave
this town and if you don't leave, you'll be beheaded," he said.
Stephan's niece, Ashhik Varojan, was one of four Christian women
killed by masked gunmen in January, Sada said.
"The reason why they are killing them is that they're blaming the
Americans for invading Iraq and in their mind, Americans are
Christians because they are Western," Sada said.
Ironically, the couple's son was able to stay in Canada five years
ago as a refugee.
But, according to research conducted by a pre-removal risk assessment
officer with Immigration Canada dated Feb. 4, 2004, there was
insufficient evidence Stephan and Alexanian would face personal risk
in Iraq.
"My research of trustworthy sources shows that since the applicant
and his wife left Iraq in 1994, the political situation has changed,"
the officer wrote.
Representing the couple is Toronto-based immigration lawyer Cecil
Rotenberg, who says Immigration Canada has been blind to their
plight.
Rotenberg said he will try to convince the government Stephan and
Alexanian should stay on humanitarian and compassionate grounds --
but that's a claim that has already been rejected.
Now senior citizens with little money, they have few options in their
homeland.
"There's no place for them to go. How the hell is that not
humanitarian and compassionate?"
Rotenberg, who has never heard of Iraqis being deported under similar
circumstances, said he is confident Immigration Canada, now led by MP
Judy Sgro (L -- York West), will reconsider the couple's case.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
July 19 2004
'No place to go'
An immigration official says political changes in Iraq reduce the
risk to the Christian couple.
TEVIAH MORO, Free Press Reporter
2004-07-19 03:31:17
An Iraqi couple that has called London home for a decade must return
to their turbulent war-torn country, Immigration Canada says. After
10 years of red tape, immigration officials have told Krikor Stephan,
68, and his wife, Sagheek Alexanian, 65, they must return to Iraq.
But as Armenian Christians, the married couple faces certain
persecution in Iraq, said son-in-law Tom Sada.
"The Christians, now they are more in danger than when it was Saddam
in power," Sada said.
Sada, 38, an Assyrian Christian, fled Iraq in 1980 during the
Iran-Iraq war at the age of 14, and entered Canada as a refugee in
1985.
His wife Sylva Sada, 33, joined him in Canada in 1990, while her
parents fled Saddam Hussein's regime in 1994, hoping Immigration
Canada would grant them refugee status, Sada said.
Since then, Stephan and Alexanian have made three applications to
Immigration Canada and been rejected all three times, he said.
After about $6,000 in legal fees and application costs, the last
rejection came three weeks ago. Sada is waiting for another letter to
find out when Stephan and Alexanian will have to pack up and go.
"We will receive a letter from immigration to prepare," he said.
Sada, whose in-laws have helped raised his four children aged six to
12, said they have nowhere to go in Iraq.
Alexanian's brother, who lives in a town about 50 kilometres south of
Baghdad, faces persecution as a Christian, he said.
Three weeks ago, Alexanian tried to call him, but there was no
answer. A contact in Baghdad told her Christians had been driven out
of town by insurgents, Sada said.
"They sent flyers to their houses, saying all Christians must leave
this town and if you don't leave, you'll be beheaded," he said.
Stephan's niece, Ashhik Varojan, was one of four Christian women
killed by masked gunmen in January, Sada said.
"The reason why they are killing them is that they're blaming the
Americans for invading Iraq and in their mind, Americans are
Christians because they are Western," Sada said.
Ironically, the couple's son was able to stay in Canada five years
ago as a refugee.
But, according to research conducted by a pre-removal risk assessment
officer with Immigration Canada dated Feb. 4, 2004, there was
insufficient evidence Stephan and Alexanian would face personal risk
in Iraq.
"My research of trustworthy sources shows that since the applicant
and his wife left Iraq in 1994, the political situation has changed,"
the officer wrote.
Representing the couple is Toronto-based immigration lawyer Cecil
Rotenberg, who says Immigration Canada has been blind to their
plight.
Rotenberg said he will try to convince the government Stephan and
Alexanian should stay on humanitarian and compassionate grounds --
but that's a claim that has already been rejected.
Now senior citizens with little money, they have few options in their
homeland.
"There's no place for them to go. How the hell is that not
humanitarian and compassionate?"
Rotenberg, who has never heard of Iraqis being deported under similar
circumstances, said he is confident Immigration Canada, now led by MP
Judy Sgro (L -- York West), will reconsider the couple's case.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress