OTTAWA — Masoda Younasy's first mistake was her unwillingness to conform to the strict rules of conduct governing women in Afghanistan.
Her second was being fearlessly – some might say recklessly – willing to talk about her disdain for customs that render many Afghan women the chattel of their fathers or husbands.
For her perceived insolence, Ms. Younasy was forced to flee the country where her grandfather ruled as king for four decades. She arrived in Toronto Friday from Islamabad after obtaining an exceptional three-year permit to live and work in Canada.
Federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney signed the papers during a recent trip to Pakistan and India. It is the first time since the Conservatives took office in 2006 that this kind of protection has been extended to someone outside the country.
Afghan immigrant Masoda Younasy waits for her friend to pick her up after arriving at Pearson airport in Toronto on Friday. (Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)
“She seemed like the future of a democratic Afghanistan and it seemed like an extraordinary case,” Mr. Kenney said.
“We are not in a position to do this on a frequent basis for obvious reasons. But this is someone whose life was clearly in peril if they continued there. And it's my hope that some day she might be able to return to a more peaceful and stable Afghanistan.”
Ms. Younasy, 22, has established her own construction company in Kandahar and an agency that teaches people how to read and to use computers. She has also set up a clinic for drug addicts whose ranks have exploded in her country, where the economy is sustained by the poppy trade.
She mused during an interview with The Globe and Mail last August that she would one day like to run for the presidency of Afghanistan.
In that interview, she described threats on her life that had been made by both the Taliban and by her own uncle who, she said, was enraged by her work and her unconventional behaviour. At that time, however, the immediate danger seemed to have abated.
It resurfaced with a vengeance late last year when her presidential ambitions were reprinted in a newspaper published by the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, a publication available online in both of the local Afghan languages.
“My relations are calling me [to say] that they will kill me because they saw the newspaper and they saw my picture,” Ms. Younasy said in December. She had called the Globe from the home of a friend in Kabul, where she was in hiding.
“I got a message from my uncle,” she said. “He told me that this time we are not going to leave you alive.”
Then her family in Kandahar got a call from the Taliban, who were also looking for her. And one of her best friends, who had occasionally worked with her at the construction company, was gunned down.
Afghan experts said there was no way to help her. Too many supporters of the regime of President Hamid Karzai are trying to get out of the country as the Taliban regaincontrol over vast swaths of land.
Mr. Kenney's staff office was asked for advice. Three hours later, a spokesman for the minister called to say Mr. Kenney was moved by the story and was trying to figure out what he could do to secure Ms. Younasy's safety.
Bureaucrats suggested issuing the permit that is sometimes given to foreigners who are already in Canada on a temporary basis and must remain for humanitarian reasons.
But Ms. Younasy had to get to Pakistan to get the documents, and she was not answering her phone or her e-mail. It took four days for her to resume contact with Canadian officials and to learn the good news.
During that time, her uncle had called the home in Kabul where she was staying to ask whether she was there. “My mom told me change your location and don't tell anyone where you are. So I changed my location and now I am in a hotel,” she explained when she resurfaced.
It took a few days and some wrangling to get her a visa for Pakistan. Finally, on Monday, she flew to Islamabad to obtain the documents that allowed her to get on the plane to Canada Friday.
“These things are really extraordinary,” Mr. Kenney said of the permit.
“We have a particular interest in Afghanistan,” he added. “Our approach to Afghanistan is multifaceted. It's diplomacy, it's development, it's security. And, if there are small things we can do on the immigration side to protect champions of Afghan's social progress and the equality of women, we will do that as well.”
As for Ms. Younasy, her aim is to attend a Canadian university and obtain a political-science degree she might some day put to use in her home country.
In the meantime, her brother and a friend will manage her construction company, which she says has too many outstanding contracts to simply be abandoned. Another friend will run her agency for the poor.
“I am so happy. Finally I am just getting out of this situation. I swear, I thought that my death was fixed,” she said.
I have not committed crime against humanity
The organization (SAHANA) dose not exists in Iran
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To: The Honorable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1
Jean Edmonds Building, Tower South, 21st floor
365 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
Telephone 613-996-4974 Fax 613-996-9749
Fax: +1 613 992 1920
Email: Kenney.j@parl.gc.ca
or Minister@cic.gc.ca
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KEYWORDS - FEDERAL COURT TRIAL DIVISION - REFUGEE DIVISION - WELL-FOUNDED FEAR OF PERSECUTION - ILLEGAL EXIT - EXCLUSION CLAUSES - ART. 1F (A) - CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY - ACCOMPLICES - PERSONAL AND KNOWING PARTICIPATION - IRAN
The claimant taught kung fu to members of the Iranian secret police (SAHANA). He then fled Iran because he feared SAHANA was about to send him abroad on a dangerous mission. The claimant had no well-founded fear of persecution. Since he was a well paid, voluntary freelancer, employed on a monthly basis, he had not "deserted" SAHANA; nor had the mission actually been proposed to, or refused by, him. Punishment for illegal departure would be punishment for violating a law of general application; moreover, evidence indicated that punishment would not occur. Article 1F(a) was applied. Personal and knowing participation in persecutory acts may be inferred from mere membership in an organization, if the organization is principally directed to a limited, brutal purpose, such as that of a secret police force. The claimant was familiar with the objectives of SAHANA before he agreed to work for it. He worked for the organization for several months before dissociating himself from it. He left SAHANA not because he abhorred its activities, but rather because of a fear for his own safety. Application dismissed. Nejad, Saeed Javidani-Tabriz v. M.C.I. (F.C.T.D., no. IMM-4624-93), Richard, November 16, 1994.
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EXTRIMLY urgent
SAVE OUR LIFE, 12 YEARS OF PAIN AWAY FROM MY FAMILY (WIFE& 10 YEARS OLD SON), WRONGFULLY ACUSED.
You're Excellency,
I could have never ever imagined the life that my wife and I started many years Ago which was filled with love and joy may one day end up to 12 years of unwanted separation. Nor could I ever think of a day when I could be the father of a 10 years old son whom I have been refused a permission to visit. How difficult it is for me to hear him telling me over the phone I Love you daddy. This longing of seeing them is burning my soul.
What difficult and long days nights that have been unbearable we have endured. We have been going through so much anxiety and emotional distress in all these years just for the hope of HAVING OUR LIFE BACK.
I have just met my wife and son just ones (because of our financial strain caused by daily telephone calls and legal fees) over 6 years ago in Thailand for only three weeks No words can express our feeling seeing each other after about five years and I was seeing my four years old son for the first time. It was so exciting and exhilarating.
Every moment of the time we spent together was very sweet and unforgettable just like a sweet dream.
I wish I did not see my four years old son who was getting acquainted to me his father who has not seen him since his birth saying goodbye not knowing when they could possibly be able to see each other again. I can never forget his words at the airport saying Why don't you come home daddy??.But daddy you promised to come home and we play Legos.His words and voice still echoing in my ears. I cannot get him off my mind even for moment. I always remember that every time I asked him who daddy's boy is. With his innocent and sweet look he opened his eyes and said I AM .I wish that I could fly and soar towards them at this very moment. I WISH THAT I COULD SEE HIS ROOM JUST FOR ONCE..............
It is also hard to see my dear wife struggling alone so vigorously for my return for such long time she has been not only to do her best as a loving and devoting mother in bringing up our son but also to fill the gap caused by my absence at home.
In addition she has been striving to be strong and not letting all traumas affect our child. Also Because of sustaining all the tremendous presses and psychological stress for so long she has been seeking some advices as well as treatments by a psychologist .I hope that we remain healthy and strong till moment we start our life again.
Often my wife and I feel that we have been forgotten and that NOONE PAYS ANY ATTENTION TO OUR LIVES BEING DISTROYED RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES!!!!!
.
However, I accept it was my own fault to make matters so complicated and I apologize for my actions (LIAED to the CRDD in the year of 1992), you have to appreciate because of my inexperience I approached the matter in wrong way. But I am disappointed and deeply hurt having these rumors circulating about me (19(1) (j)) and my innocence have not been proven for the immigration authorities, EVEN that CSIS has giving me security clearness.(NRT)
This is completely wrong; I have said this many time that I WAS NOT a martial arts teacher and I DID NOT teach anyone, I was not involve in any CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY.
This is so so very much painful for me that you see me like this, I have not harmed anything or anyone my whole life, BUT now I have been wrongfully treated as war criminal for many years and our whole life (me, my wife and our son) has been taking away from us on the best (11) years of our relationship; which can not be replace by anything.
I realize that I was WRONGFULLY ACCUSED.
We have given everything we had to have our life back, I understand that my application was refused because of tragic event that happened in 2001 which makes me think that (WE ARE THE VICTIM OF SEPTAMBER 11)?????????
My dear wife gave everything she had to defend her husband and bring her son's father back home, which she had to get bank loan for legal fees on 3 years payment, how difficult is for a single mom to deal with this??????????
Moreover how, noble, conscientious and honorable an idea is that the people all around the world should not be regarded as or equated with their own respective governments, I wish that The Canadian authorities had considered me as a HUMAN, before even regarded me as an Iranian, who is asking just for his, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT, to be considered.
Future, it makes everyone wonder, a country like, CANADA, one of the passionate and serious advocates of the human rights and right of the family and children both in the national and international arena, DEPRIVES, me of seeing my son for TEN years.
In Canada, even animals are enjoying from the special rights considered for them, I wish I was treated like a criminal in Canada so that I would have been imprisoned there, this way at least I could have been able to hug my son even for a moment, since prisoners have the right to see There family.
. It is likely in the countries where the human rights are violated and the capital Punishment is the low of land, EVEN convicts are allowed to see their families, I wish I had been EXECUTED, so I would not have to witness ten years of humiliation, agony, exhaustion, Despair, and contempt of my dear wife as well as my beloved son.
Indeed, DEATH is more appealing to me than this pathetic life.
.
WHAT MORE SHOULD WE GIVE AND HOWMANY MORE YEARS SHOULD WE WAIT?? ????????
I have realized that I have not been considered as a human, If I had my application would not been refused for (TRV) on the day of NEWYEARS EVE (2004)! Furthermore it is agonizing to see my son around the Christmas tree sadly watching the other kids with fathers around and asking him why his father is not by his side during such holy and precious moments, I do not believe ANY child deserves this grief's.
My only gilt is that I LIAED (16 years ago), don't I deserve FORGIVNESS?
Don't you BELIEVE that we are just a human and we all do mistakes, AND we do deserve a SECOND CHANCE?????????????
Your Excellency, I hope that no family ever deals with the same problem and fate as we do.
I also hope that nothing causes separation among the members of a family for whatever reason that may be.
Hope that any distrust's replaced by compassion, forbearance and affinity.
Yours truly,
Saeed Javdani Tabrizi Nejad
265 10th ave west
Azadi st, Gohardasht (Rajaee Shahr)
Karaj, Iran
Postal code: 31489
Tel: 01198-261 449 0303
Cell: 01198-912-567-2495
sam_javdanitn@yahoo.com
Posted by: saeed javdani | January 26, 2009 at 03:41 PM
hi how are you hope your fine. but you dont me who i am. i am from afghanistan i want to work in canada if you can please help me. wish you seccess in your life always.
Posted by: Abdurrahman Alokozay | May 26, 2009 at 07:28 AM