(Take action on February 14 to end an
immigration nightmare for Ottawa-based refugee and mother of four facing
deportation to Syria, details below)
BACKGROUND
Maria Al-Rayyan is one of Canada's newest
citizens, born in Ottawa in December, 2016. But Maria and her 3 Canadian
brothers live in a world of fear and uncertainty. Their mother Dima Siam,
a Syrian refugee, is still under deportation order from Canada to Syria, based
on a simple paperwork era. Dima's house in Syria was destroyed by shelling
in 2012; in 2013, her sister-in-law was kidnapped and disappeared in Syria.
Maria Al-Rayyan. Her mother is under deportation order from Canada to Syria.
Since her arrival in Canada in 2012, Dima
Siam has lived in a virtual prison without status. Dima cannot visit her
parents overseas, and her mother was denied a visa to visit Canada and be
with her during the birth of Maria in December. In addition, Immigration,
Refugees and Citizenship Canada's own errors have caused unnecessary delays
in the case as well.
While her husband and four children are all
Canadian citizens, Dima remains under deportation order to Syria because of a
simple paperwork error. She has applauded as some 35,000 Syrian refugees
have been welcomed to Canada, but wonders why, despite having all of the proper
checks in place – security, health, income – she has not been landed. The
effect on her and her family has been devastating. The children are afraid to
go to school for fear their mom might not be home at the end of the day.
The stress has led to anxiety attacks that have landed Dima and her husband in
Ottawa emergency rooms.
We are calling on Justin Trudeau,
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, and Parliamentary Secretary Serge Cormier to
finally do the right thing, end this psychological torture begun under the
Harper government (and, unfortunately, continued under the Trudeau government),
and grant Dima Siam IMMEDIATE permanent resident status.
Please email or call Trudeau, Hussen and
Cormier on Tuesday, February 14, and demand that they deliver the ultimate
Valentine gift: a release from the indefinite imprisonment of living under
a deportation order to Syria, and permanent resident status for Dima Siam.
Why Valentine's Day?
Because it is a day
based on a saint who was himself imprisoned.
In the ancient Roman Empire, Emperor
Claudius II banned rituals leading to love and marriage, as young men in love
or who married were reluctant to join the army, for which Claudius was
having recruitment troubles. Although the Emperor declared engagements and
marriages to be illegal, a priest called St. Valentine felt the Emperor's
dictates were unjust and started to conduct marriages in secret. Once his
activities became known he was jailed and later executed, in part for helping prisoners
escape.
TAKING ACTION:
1. Send emails with Permanent Residency for
Dima Siam in the subject line and a short note explaining why Dima should be
granted status in Canada. Send
to minister@cic.gc.ca, Ahmed.Hussen@parl.gc.ca, Serge.Cormier@parl.gc.ca,
and justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
2. If you have a moment, please call with
the same message: Ahmed Hussen (613) 995-0777; Serge
Cormier (613) 992-2165, Justin Trudeau,
(613) 992-4211
(613) 992-4211
3. Share on Facebook the following
petition: https://www.change.org/p/ahmed-hussan-grant-syrian-refugee-and-ottawa-resident-dima-siam-permanent-residency-in-canada
Thanks!
The Rural Refugee Rights Network
(613) 267-3998
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