A transgender Syrian refugee claims she has been stranded in a Turkish airport for seven months after a Canadian diplomat alleged that she underwent gender reassignment surgery in a bid to gain access to the country.
Arwa Almsrawi had initially been granted refugee status by Canada after the nation received a referral from the U.N. Refugee Agency.
But while on her journey to her new homeland, she got into trouble at Istanbul Airport, learning she was on the U.S’ ‘No Fly List’ and eventually had 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 over a decade.
But she held no legal status in Saudi Arabia, depriving her of the ability to work legally.
Arwa Almsrawi had previously been granted refugee status by Canada after the nation received a referral from the U.N. Refugee Agency
When Almsrawi began her journey to Canada, where she finally expected ‘to be a full human being,’ she encountered trouble at the Istanbul airport
When Almsrawi was approved to relocate to Canada, where she finally expected ‘to be a full human being,’ she was flagged at the Istanbul airport.
She was prevented her from boarding her flight to Toronto, with officials informing the Syrian refugee that she was on the United States’ No Fly List.
Canadian immigration officers then nixed Almsrawi’s refugee application with minimal explanation.
It is unclear as to why her name appears on the U.S. no fly list, but in a letter from the Canadian government, the inclusion appears to be a factor in their refusal decision.
The document, which outlined why she has been stripped of her refugee status, did not contain any particular allegations against Almsrawi, but acknowledged her presence on the No Fly List factored into their final verdict, saying that it introduced ‘unknowables.’
‘These “unknowables,” in my view, make the risk to the security of the Canadian public too great, and this to me is of more weight, when measured against your vulnerable circumstances,’ the letter said.
After American officials intervened, Canadian immigration officers nixed Almsrawi’s refugee application with minimal explanation
U.S. authorities prevented her from boarding her flight to Toronto, informing the Syrian refugee that she was on their No Fly List
She said she doesn’t know why her 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 to the Toronto Star, adding 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 U.A.E.-based Canadian diplomat, who later revoked her refugee status.
Almsrawi alleged that the government official was hostile and aggressive toward her, the Toronto Star reported.
Almsrawi alleged that the government official was hostile and aggressive toward her
She claims that the diplomat accused her of changing 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’s now been seven months since arriving at Istanbul airport in a state of legal limbo, which her lawyer characterized as ‘Kafkaesque.’
Almsrawi fears being forced to return to Syria, but she is struggling to find admission to another country.
‘No country is willing to accept me,’ she told the Star. ‘ I have no place to go.’
In an interview with a psychiatrist, Alsmrawi revealed that she has attempted to commit suicide twice since becoming stranded at the airport.
Canadian officials recently told her that she will no longer receive food and other accommodations as of October 2.
Then she claimed that the diplomat accused her of becoming transgender to gain access to Canada
In a statement to the Star, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada defended their reputation.
‘Canada has a proud history of protecting and resettling those who are the most in need of resettlement, including 2SLGBTQI+ REFUGEES and their families,’ the spokesperson said.
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