Sask. mother launches new legal fight to bring daughter, granddaughter to Canada as refugees
CBC
A Saskatoon woman is hoping a judicial review will lead to her daughter finally being able to come to Canada as a refugee.
CBC is not identifying the people involved to protect the daughter. "Nahid" (not her real name) was allegedly the victim of sexual assault. Her lawyer has also filed for a confidentiality order in federal court.
For years, Canada's Department of Citizenship and Immigration has turned down numerous requests to bring Nahid to Canada, frustrating her mother, "Suraya" (not her real name).
"I'm praying," said Suraya. "I'm just waiting for some kindness from the [Canadian] government."
Nahid is currently living as a refugee in Turkey with her daughter after fleeing Iran. She says she was abused by her family and raped while she was in Iran.
After becoming pregnant, Nahid felt it wasn't safe to stay in the country and fled.
Suraya said her granddaughter has many health problems that stem from an infection she had when she was a baby. The now-four-year-old child cannot talk or eat solid food.
Last week, Nahid's lawyer filed an unusual request with the Federal Court of Canada. Her lawyer is asking for the judge to take the case out of the immigration department's hands and make a ruling on the case.
"We want someone to really take a very impartial look at this," said lawyer Warda Shazadi Meighen.
"If Nahid is inadmissible to Canada, then victims of domestic abuse who are forced to act against their will will also be in this position."
According to Nahid's family, the Canadian government may be hesitant to grant her entry into Canada because she worked for her father's company in Iran. Nahid suspected the business may have helped to circumvent sanctions placed on the country, but did not know for certain.
During her time at the business, Nahid was sleeping on a chair at the office and was not allowed to have a bank account, her mother said.
Nahid's family said she was forced to work for the company and only did menial administrative tasks and janitorial services.
Lawyer Shazadi Meighen said the Canadian government has never acknowledged whether the business is the reason she has been repeatedly deemed inadmissible.
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WARNING: This story contains details of abuse and intimate partner violence: