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 develop into a Canadian citizen.
“Today is kind of a declaration of winning after all these years,” Kontar instructed Al Jazeera throughout a cellphone name simply earlier than the citizenship ceremony. “Today I am stateless no more.”
Now 41 years outdated, Al Kontar first gained the world’s consideration in 2018 when he began to chronicle his ordeal in the airport on social media. Having fled the conflict in Syria, Al Kontar discovered himself caught in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport with out authorized immigration papers, unable to depart or journey to a different nation.
His posts attracted sympathy from world wide 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 mentioned his lengthy struggle to search out refuge has lastly been vindicated. But he additionally mirrored on the sacrifices he made to reach at this level.
“For this, I lost a destroyed country. I was not able to be there for my father when he needed me the most or to be by his side when he passed away. I watched my brother’s wedding over Skype when I was stuck at the airport. I was jailed and faced a racist system,” Al Kontar instructed Al Jazeera.
Millions displaced in Syrian conflict
In 2011, throughout mass protests throughout the Arab world, dubbed the “Arab Spring”, demonstrators in Syria took to the streets to demand democratic reforms. But confronted with a violent crackdown below Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, what began as a protest motion quickly turned a civil conflict.
More than 350,000 folks have been killed in the last 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 outdoors of the nation, with many caught in refugee camps and trapped in authorized limbo.
Al Kontar instructed Al Jazeera that, as a substitute of receiving help 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 achieve Europe, embarking on lethal journeys and steadily paying with their lives. Those who arrive safely face an unsure future. Countries like Denmark have tried to ship asylum seekers again to war-torn Syria.
“All of the doors have been closed in our faces,” Al Kontar mentioned. “We Syrians are survivors. We are trying our best. But the refugee problem is escalating and most countries are not keeping their promises.”
A protracted ordeal
Al Kontar lived in 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 in 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. But 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 dwelling to return to and no state to name his personal, Al Kontar spent greater than half a yr dwelling in Kuala Lumpur International 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 displaying, for instance, what it’s wish to improvise a haircut in an airport bathroom. He additionally spoke of the plight going through Syrian refugees.
This is a day that price 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.
Today is a day like no different pic.twitter.com/EDPelxvIcI— Hassan Al Kontar (@Kontar81) January 11, 2023
Things 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 mentioned they might search to deport him to Syria.
Immigrants in detention centres world wide typically expertise gruelling and harmful situations. 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 software 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, walking on the street again and smelling the fresh air, it’s not a normal thing,” he mentioned on the time. “It’s the sound and smell of freedom.”
Years of separation
In 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 Red Cross. Now, after dozens of on-line programs, that aim has develop into a actuality. As a part of the Canadian Red Cross, Al Kontar has helped with COVID-19 vaccination efforts and serves on a flood restoration group.
He has additionally discovered time to write down a e-book about his experiences, titled Man on the Airport: How Social Media Saved My Life.
“We want to contribute to the countries where we live,” Al Kontar mentioned. “We will be a good addition to any community we live in.”
Now, with the prospect of lastly having a Canadian passport, Al Kontar hopes he can realise two of his goals: travelling to a refugee camp as a case employee to help these battling statelessness and reuniting along with his household after almost 15 years of separation.
Al Kontar was capable of assist his household escape Syria and mentioned they’ve been dwelling in Egypt for the final 4 months. “I hope to see them as soon as I can,” he instructed Al Jazeera. “In the future, I will bring them to live in Canada.”
While Al Kontar is important of governments which have responded to the refugee disaster with a regime of partitions, restrictions and detention centres, he mentioned folks in Canada have been welcoming.
“The people in Canada are kind and polite,” he mentioned. “They say ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ countless times for no obvious reason.”
He additionally enjoys Canada’s pure magnificence and switched to video chat to indicate Al Jazeera a gaggle of deer approaching him in the snow.
“I think maybe they have come to celebrate with me,” he mentioned.
