A Syrian refugee whose family is split between three countries and remains “in limbo” is planning to pen a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Mohammed Alsaleh first made headlines in the fall of 2015 when the Record first covered his story. He was arrested in Syria at the age of 24 while writing a test for medical school, and was detained for 120 days, tortured and nearly killed.
He fled to neighbouring Lebanon, and eventually landed in New Westminster, leaving his family behind. Two of his brothers, including a 16-year-old, are currently in Germany, while his mom and other siblings are in Turkey.
After reading the story and meeting Alsaleh, New West resident Deana Brynildsen started crowdfunding to help bring his family to Canada and met the $30,000 goal in less than three weeks.
But now that a year has gone by, Alsaleh said the process has dragged on and the separation has negatively impacted his family.
“They feel they are in prison,” he said. “They are in a situation in which they don’t have work, they don’t have school, and once they go out, they don’t have any friends. They don’t know anybody there and there is a language barrier. Their lives are not being taken seriously. That’s what they feel and that’s what they told me.”
Alsaleh, who works for the Immigrant Services Society of B.C. as a national youth worker, added his family’s situation is stressful for him, too.
“I’m not being able to sleep well, to eat well. My overall well-being is being tremendously impacted by this,” he said.
The family’s sponsorship applications filed by the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster were approved in Canada a few months ago, but they still have to be called for interviews by officers from the Canadian embassies in Ankara and Vienna (Germany does not have an immigration office at its Canadian embassy).
Alsaleh told the Record he’s been advised by Peter Julian, MP for New Westminster, that the file for the family members in Turkey may be finalized by next March, but “no promises.” For his brothers in Germany, he’s been told those applications could take up to 46 months.
In his letter to Trudeau, Alsaleh plans to write about his two encounters with the prime minister. The first was during Trudeau’s first visit to B.C. after he won the 2015 election. The second was when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate) were in Vancouver at the end of September and met with a family of Syrian refugees. Alsaleh served as an interpreter.
Alsaleh said he’s not asking for special treatment.
“I’m writing to him to just share the feeling of gratitude to Canada and all Canadians for helping me and saving my life, and share with him that my family is so grateful for everything Canada has done for us,” he said. “I would just ask for (him) to take into consideration that (my family) has everything ready for them here in Canada. They have an expanding network of people; they have enough to support themselves, and all they need is to get here and start their lives.”
