Arash and Maya are refugees from Iran who are living in Turkey. Because of their faith, they risk imprisonment, torture and death back home. They are currently in exile in Turkey, where they are in a state of limbo, with no future.
The good news: now that they have official refugee status, they can be sponsored to come to Canada. They have a dedicated settlement team in Toronto. All that’s missing is the required funds.
Who we are helping: Arash and his wife Maya
Who they are
: Christian refugees from Iran, living in Sakarya, Turkey
What they do: Graphic designer and software
engineer, now unemployed
The opportunity: Private sponsorship to Canada
Advantages
: Educated professionals with a settlement team in Toronto. Full
refugee status.
And why I'm doing this: My name is Pari Abbassi, and this couple is very dear to me. I am an ordinary person, living in Vancouver, who believes in this couple - and I trust that love can move mountains. That's why I am sure we can bring Arash and Maya to Canada with the help of friends and good people like you.
This is their heartbreaking story. Let's give it a happy ending...
Growing Up
Arash’s father was a professor of history and literature at the University of Tehran. He was also an intellect who opposed the government of the Islamic Republic.
Like his father, Arash was a free thinker. When in his early teens, he started attending church with his father, and quietly converted to Christianity . In Iran, that is a crime punishable by death.
Losing a Father
In 2009, there were street protests nationwide after the government fixed the results of the election. Arash’s father, who was known for his dissident views, was beat by security forces. He died before reaching the hospital, and his family was too afraid to attend his funeral.
After graduating as a graphic designer in 2012, Arash applied for a permit to start his own business. His application was refused, and instead he was interrogated.
Despite this persecution, Arash did his best to live his life, and started work for an interior design firm. There he met Maya, the love of his life . Two years later, they were married.
A week after the wedding and company launch, the pastor of their church was arrested . The security forces also came to Arash’s house and took documents and hard drives of information.
Flight to Safety
Knowing his faith was about to be exposed, Arash left Tehran that night with Maya and stayed at a friend’s house. He soon learned there was a warrant for his arrest.
With only a suitcase of personal belongings, the couple headed for Turkey. Three months after leaving Iran, Arash learned he had been convicted of betraying the government . He and Maya gave up hope of ever returning home.
Their Life Now
The couple registered with the government of Turkey, and were told to settle in a city in northwestern Turkey. Life there is difficult. Under the law of Turkey, they are not allowed to work, visit a public hospital, or leave the city.
They have faced much discrimination as non-Turkish citizens and as Christians. They have been repeatedly fired from their jobs and harassed by neighbours. As educated professionals, they must survive on menial jobs.
“Four years have passed in this state, with no hope or progress. When my mother calls from Iran to check on me, I lie to her and say I’m fine. Each day that passes I wonder if our life will ever begin again.”
How we can help
Arash and Maya dream of a better life in a safe and welcoming country like Canada where they can finally make a living from their gifts and build a life together.
The dream lies within reach – with your help. Since they are officially certified as refugees – they qualify for Canada’s private sponsorship program.
A group of friends and family members are putting together an application. Before they can submit it, however, they need to have enough funds for their first 12 months in Canada. According to the rules of immigration, the funds must be raised first and held in trust before the sponsorship application can move forward.
We’ve already offset the required $24,800 by $13,000 through an offer of a free place to stay for one year from one of the sponsors. That means we just need to raise $11,800 to submit the application!
The funds raised will go entirely towards Arash and Maya for their first year of expenses.
What’s next
To learn more about the couple, feel free to reach out to Stephen Watt , their friend in Toronto, or to me, Pari Abbassi , their friend in Vancouver who is helping to raise the funds. You may read about Stephen Watt's on the Northern Lights website . You can also reach out to him directly on Facebook .
If you can help, please click on the “ Donate ” button. Every dollar brings us one step closer to our goal.
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Help give them a second chance!
