York student-refugees share their history of seeking asylum in Canada while facing persecution

Anti-refugee narratives are blooming amidst the terror frenzies around the globe.
Amnesty International at York and RefugeAid hosted student refugee panelists last week to shine a light on the refugee crisis. The evening spread awareness of refugee issues to better the lives, and the chances of receiving asylum, of those seeking refuge from the so-called Islamic State.
Speakers shared personal stories of life as refugees fleeing from countries such as Palestine, Iran, Egypt, Thailand, and even working at refugee camps abroad.
“When I was 13, my family and I had three days to escape Egypt and persecution by the brotherhood of Egypt (Muslim Brotherhood),” says Meriana Matta, third-year human rights and equity studies student. “It was a very difficult and scary process because at the time, the government refused to acknowledge that there was an issue.”
As a refugee coming to Canada, Matta underwent an intensive screening process to ensure she wouldn’t harm Canadians.
The recent Paris attacks have sparked an anti-refugee sentiment with people starting online petitions, claiming refugees are potential terrorists and pose a threat to Canadians.
“After the Bosnian civil war, there were lots of Muslim refugees who came to Canada. None of them posed a threat to security,” says Hajir Sharifi, second-year human rights and philosophy student and Iranian refugee.
“I fled the oppressive regime in Iran and as a refugee I was in the most vulnerable position,” he says.
“It’s not fair that these refugees are being vilified and stereotyped as threats to our country. It just so happens that these refugees are escaping because of the same fear of religious fundamentalism in their own countries.”
The same threat refugee’s face in Syria, they face in Canada, says Sharifi. In Syria, ISIS harps on the poor and desperate for indoctrination, and in Canada, ISIS fosters fear of the very refugees it creates.
“People are blaming refugees for happenings which they had nothing to do with,” says Ahmed Nasman, refugee from Hamama to Gaza in Palestine, and second-year human resource management student.
Nasman hopes voices of refugees are amplified throughout the York community and people become educated about the crisis in the Middle East.
“Hearing the speakers furthered my understanding about the fact that refugees are leaving the only home they’ve ever known, only to come here and be mistaken for the very attackers who were forcing them to leave in the first place,” says Naval Mohammad, fourth-year political science student.
“When we have the capacity to help refugees, turning a blind eye to human rights atrocities would go against all the values and principles that should guide us as citizens of a global community.”
Tatiana Prisiajny
Features Editor