“Worse Off Than a Refugee” MFB Stories

“Worse Off Than a Refugee”

An Iraqi Man’s Struggle as an Illegal Immigrant in Canada.

If you think there is nothing worse than being a refugee, think again. Refugees who go through the proper channels to immigrate to a safe place get accepted into countries such as Canada. Such refugees are often supported with a monthly stipend, are given access to healthcare as well as work permit allowing them a chance to create roots in a new country. Kamran Barakat is an Iraqi man who wishes he was a such a refugee. He is an illegal immigrant currently living in Surrey, B.C. Kamran arrived in Vancouver in November, 2016, on a tourist visa with the hope that one day he will acquire permanent residence in Canada. That hope may be too far-fetched but it is what keeps him going. Kamran fled the war-torn Iraq to seek asylum in Canada and plans to eventually sponsor his wife whom he left behind. But Kamran didn’t take the traditional route of filling out paperwork and seeking asylum in Canada. The city he belongs to in Iraq is not currently under siege which is why he thought his application would not have been accepted. Moving to Canada illegally was his only choice. Karman flew from Iraq to Chicago, from Chicago to Seattle and then crossed the border from Blaine into B.C. He then surrendered himself to Canadian border security and asked for asylum. Some would call Kamran an economic migrant seeking to live in a country with better work opportunity and overall higher standard of living but that’s only part of the picture. One of the most heart-wrenching accounts of illegal immigrants that we recently witnessed is that of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian boy of Kurdish descent, who washed up on a beach in Turkey when his boat capsized on its way to Greece. Kamran is also of Kurdish descent but he has more in common with Alan than just heritage. Both their countries are engulfed in war. Both their countries are on the brink of a war-driven starvation. Both their countries are plagued with the presence of the terrorist group ISIS. Muslim Food Bank Community Services caseworker, Farhad Rouhani, was handed Kamran’s case days after his arrival in Canada. Farhad understands what drove Kamran to leave his life behind and move to Canada as he is keenly aware of the instability in Iraq. “The situation there changes day to day,” Farhad says. Farhad didn’t wait long to set up his first meeting with him. He remembers Kamran being sad and depressed but more than that he was uncertain of what’s to come. “He was new and he missed his family. Everything was a big question mark to him.” Farhad has been in the same boat many times in his life. His career as an engineer took him from his native Iran to Europe, the US and Canada. Each time he he had to move to a new place, he was uprooted from the life that he had built. He didn’t just miss the familiarity of the place he left behind, he also missed the friends he had made and the memories that were etched in his mind. When Farhad saw the vacancy for a Persianspeaking caseworker on the Muslim Food Bank Facebook page, he grabbed the opportunity right away. Farhad helps interpret for Kamran as they share the same language. Farhad was pleasantly surprised to hear Kamran speak Persian with the Iranian dialect. When Farhad asked how Kamran knew the slangs so well, he told him that living close to the Iranian border, he got TV signal from across the border. “Kamran told me him and his wife watched Iranian TV shows 24/7,” Farhad says with a sparkle in his eyes. Farhad wanted Kamran to see him as a friend because he knew that Kamran’s biggest need is someone he can share his feelings with. “At first, I provided him emotional support but as time went by I started letting him know about available resources.” Farhad showed Kamran how he can search places on Google Maps and check bus tim- ings. Farhad also found out that Kamran can speak to a psychologist so he can deal with the circumstances he has found himself in. Besides being a librarian in Iraq, Kamran also worked in tiling. Since Farhad has a lot of connections in the real estate market, he has promised to help Kamran get a job in tiling as soon as he gets his work permit. Kamran recently had a court hearing in which he was able to present his story to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. He is now waiting for the court’s verdict. If the court rules in his favor, he will be allowed to stay and sponsor his wife. If not, Kamran will be deported back to Iraq. Back to the devastation of war. Back to the uncertainty of how long him and his wife will stay safe. These are real stories where our volunteers have an impact on members of our community helping them progress in their lives. InshaAllah next week we will bring you another story. Please join us to have a purpose in your life to make a difference in the lives of your brothers and sisters by coming to our events and registering as a volunteer or donating to your organization, the Muslim Food Bank and Community Services Society (usually referred to as Muslim Food Bank) at www.muslimfoodbank.com/donate. Our email is contact muslimfoodbank.com and telephone number is 1-866-824-2525.