After fleeing Taliban and abuse, Afghan woman in Canada for 8 years faces deportation with her children

Frozan Hassan Zai thought she would finally be safe after leaving an abusive marriage in the Netherlands with her two children, her second time fleeing a country.

She arrived in Canada, married a Canadian, had a child, started a business and has helped others to come to this country. 

Eight years later, and now living in Paris, Ont., she faces deportation by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

"In this big world, there is no place we can call home," Zai told CBC.

Zai's husband tried to sponsor her and her children twice through the common-law spousal program, but was denied both times because the IRCC has deemed they're in a marriage of convenience — meaning they wed solely with the intention of receiving citizenship or permanent status.

At a hearing scheduled for later today, Zai expects to receive a deportation order.

Zai's story begins at a grocery store in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan where she made the political mistake of not wearing a burqa — a full-body and face covering.

"I had only a scarf," she said. "They started beating me almost to death.

"And that day, my mom said we have to leave because today you were almost killed."

Zai said she was 13 when she left Afghanistan. She, her parents and her brother fled on foot with only a backpack to carry their belongings.

Eventually ending up in the Netherlands, at 16, Zai was forced to marry her cousin and became pregnant shortly afterward.

She named her first born Shokran Hassan Zai, who said growing up in Holland was full of ups and downs, but mostly downs.

"I grew up with just my mom and she was a single mom. My dad was not around all that much for most of my life," Shokran told CBC.

His mother said Shokran's father was abusive toward her, and in and out of jail over the next 14 years of their marriage.