Hassan Al Kontar advised Al Jazeera he has not seen his household since 2008 and hopes to acquire a Canadian passport.
Wednesday marks a long-awaited milestone for Syrian refugee Hassan Al Kontar. After years of uncertainty – together with seven months spent stranded in a Malaysia airport – Al Kontar has lastly change into a Canadian citizen.
“Right now is type of a declaration of successful in any case these years,” Kontar advised Al Jazeera throughout a telephone name simply earlier than the citizenship ceremony. “Right now I'm stateless no extra.”
Now 41 years outdated, Al Kontar first gained the world’s consideration in 2018 when he began to chronicle his ordeal within the airport on social media. Having fled the battle in Syria, Al Kontar discovered himself caught within the Kuala Lumpur Worldwide Airport with out authorized immigration papers, unable to go away or journey to a different nation.
His posts attracted sympathy from around the globe and drew consideration to the labyrinthine course of many asylum seekers navigate as they attempt to escape violence and persecution.
As he ready to take Canada’s oath of citizenship on Wednesday, Al Kontar stated his lengthy combat to search out refuge has lastly been vindicated. However he additionally mirrored on the sacrifices he made to reach at this level.
“For this, I misplaced a destroyed nation. I used to be not capable of be there for my father when he wanted me essentially the most or to be by his facet when he handed away. I watched my brother’s wedding ceremony over Skype after I was caught on the airport. I used to be jailed and confronted a racist system,” Al Kontar advised Al Jazeera.
Thousands and thousands displaced in Syrian battle
In 2011, throughout mass protests throughout the Arab world, dubbed the “Arab Spring”, demonstrators in Syria took to the streets to demand democratic reforms. However confronted with a violent crackdown underneath Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, what began as a protest motion quickly turned a civil battle.
Greater than 350,000 folks have been killed within the decade since, and greater than 13 million Syrians have been displaced, in accordance with the United Nations. Of the latter, greater than 6.6 million are exterior of the nation, with many caught in refugee camps and trapped in authorized limbo.
Al Kontar advised Al Jazeera that, as an alternative of receiving assist and help, Syrian refugees have typically discovered themselves shut out as nations heighten immigration restrictions and search to maintain asylum seekers at arm’s size.
Many have risked their lives in determined efforts to succeed in Europe, embarking on lethal journeys and often paying with their lives. Those that arrive safely face an unsure future. International locations like Denmark have tried to ship asylum seekers again to war-torn Syria.
“The entire doorways have been closed in our faces,” Al Kontar stated. “We Syrians are survivors. We try our greatest. However the refugee drawback is escalating and most nations will not be protecting their guarantees.”
A protracted ordeal
Al Kontar lived within the United Arab Emirates for 11 years. He was deported in October 2017 as a result of he had refused a brand new Syrian passport, fearing he could be pressured to return to Syria to serve within the army for the Assad regime.
He was despatched to Malaysia, one of many few nations the place Syrians can obtain a visa on entry. However his three-month vacationer visa quickly expired.
Al Kontar paid a penalty payment for overstaying his visa and tried to fly to Ecuador however was not allowed onto the aircraft. He tried to go to Cambodia however was once more despatched again to Malaysia.
With no house to return to and no state to name his personal, Al Kontar spent greater than half a 12 months residing in Kuala Lumpur Worldwide Airport’s home switch terminal.
It was throughout that point Al Kontar started to doc his on a regular basis experiences, sharing movies on social media exhibiting, for instance, what it's wish to improvise a haircut in an airport bathroom. He additionally spoke of the plight going through Syrian refugees.
It is a day that value me a father, a destroyed homeland, jail, persecution, tears, blood, & fifteen years of being away from my family members.
Wishing the identical for each oppressed freedom fighter.
Wishing the identical for each refugee in refugee camps.
Right now is a day like no different pic.twitter.com/EDPelxvIcI— Hassan Al Kontar (@Kontar81) January 11, 2023
Issues took a flip for the more severe when Malaysian authorities arrested Al Kontar in October 2018. He was despatched to a detention centre, the place authorities stated they might search to deport him to Syria.
Immigrants in detention centres around the globe typically expertise gruelling and harmful circumstances. Malaysia’s human rights physique SUHAKAM has described the nation’s detention services as “torture-like”.
Al Kontar’s social media posts had caught the eye of a handful of volunteers in Canada, who filed a refugee utility on his behalf. After his arrest, Canada cleared him for asylum, and he touched down in Vancouver in November 2018.
When he arrived, he stepped out of the airport and inhaled the contemporary air. “For me, strolling on the road once more and smelling the contemporary air, it’s not a standard factor,” he stated on the time. “It’s the sound and scent of freedom.”
Years of separation
Within the years since, Al Kontar has labored to regulate to life in Canada, overcoming obstacles acquainted to anybody who has tailored to life in a brand new nation: discovering a job, filling out immigration paperwork and getting acquainted with new environment.
His first job was as a barista, serving tea and low as he pursued a profession as a case employee with the Crimson Cross. Now, after dozens of on-line programs, that aim has change into a actuality. As a part of the Canadian Crimson Cross, Al Kontar has helped with COVID-19 vaccination efforts and serves on a flood restoration workforce.
He has additionally discovered time to put in writing a ebook about his experiences, titled Man on the Airport: How Social Media Saved My Life.
“We need to contribute to the nations the place we reside,” Al Kontar stated. “We can be an excellent addition to any neighborhood we reside in.”
Now, with the prospect of lastly having a Canadian passport, Al Kontar hopes he can realise two of his desires: travelling to a refugee camp as a case employee to help these scuffling with statelessness and reuniting together with his household after practically 15 years of separation.
Al Kontar was capable of assist his household escape Syria and stated they've been residing in Egypt for the final 4 months. “I hope to see them as quickly as I can,” he advised Al Jazeera. “Sooner or later, I'll convey them to reside in Canada.”
Whereas Al Kontar is important of governments which have responded to the refugee disaster with a regime of partitions, restrictions and detention centres, he stated folks in Canada have been welcoming.
“The folks in Canada are variety and well mannered,” he stated. “They are saying ‘thanks’ and ‘sorry’ numerous instances for no apparent motive.”
He additionally enjoys Canada’s pure magnificence and switched to video chat to point out Al Jazeera a gaggle of deer approaching him within the snow.
“I feel perhaps they've come to have fun with me,” he stated.
Post a Comment