CTV Montreal, February 22, 2017 – An Iranian woman facing deportation says she fears her life is in danger if she returns to her native country.
Roghayeh Azizi Mirmahaleh is being held in the immigration detention center in Laval ahead of her scheduled deportation on Feb. 28.
Before arriving in Canada five years ago, Mirmahaleh had been imprisoned in Iran for three years for her political activism.
Canada broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in 2012, and listed the country as a state supporter of terrorism.
Mirmahaleh and her husband were both convicted in Iran for their actions.
“My mother was a former political prisoner in Iran. she was in prison for three years. also, my father was executed by the Iranian government in 1988,” said Sahar Bahrami..
Lawyer Stéphanie Valois is arguing that there was no basis for Mirmaheleh’s arrest, because her client would never have been considered a criminal in Canada.
“The client was not really a member. She was distributing pamphlets,’ about human rights said Valois.
The case has the support of Quebec Solidaire MNA and Iranian native Amir Khadir.
“Whatever the reasons for this detention, everybody understands that there is a need for a political intervention,” said Khadir.
Quebec’s Immigration Minister agrees, and Kathleen Weil has asked her federal counterpart to intervene.
“We are worried about her health. We’re worried about her security. He had the ability to regularize her status so that she could stay here for humanitarian reasons,” said Weil.
Mirmahaleh’s lawyer is asking for a stay of deportation, and the hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning.