Iranian protester left blind in one eye, faces barriers to come to Canada for help | 24CA News
WARNING: Some readers might discover the small print on this story disturbing. Discretion is suggested.
Saman, a 30-year-old Iranian nationwide, has been left blind in a single eye for the remainder of his life.
“From a near distance, he shot at my face, and I lose my left eye forever,” he informed Global News.
Saman, whose final title Global News just isn’t revealing because of security issues, stated on Oct. 1, 2022, an Islamic Republic safety officer stood simply 10 ft away from him, raised his gun and fired a rubber bullet, hitting his left eye.
He stated the regime’s officer aimed toward his face, recognizing him as one of many activists who had gone night time after night time to Vali Asr sq. in Tehran to protest towards the Iranian authorities.
“I have damage from tooth and skull and brain,” he added.
Saman is among the a whole lot of victims to have suffered extreme eye accidents by safety forces since mid-September in accordance with medical doctors in Iran.
Saman, who spoke over zoom from an undisclosed location exterior Iran, stated he drove himself to a number of hospitals whereas holding onto his mutilated eye.
He stated most hospitals refused to deal with him given the dangers medics face treating demonstrators.
Finally, one physician agreed to carry out a fast surgical procedure on him. He stated a nurse informed him authorities have been looking for him and in only a few hours – he managed to flee. He left behind his life, household, residence, and job.
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Saman stated he’s now in hiding from the regime and his life continues to be in peril.
“They are tracking me everywhere and I think they want to kill me,” he stated.
B.C. residents attempting to assist Saman
Saman’s story compelled Vancouver registered nurse Mahi Etminan with the BC Cancer Foundation and her brother Dr. Mahyar Etminan, who works at an Eye Care Centre, and UBC’s Deptment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Department of Medicine, to achieve out and assist.
Mahi additionally works with plastic surgeons who’re prepared to carry out surgical procedure at no cost on Saman.
She has been involved with Saman each day on the telephone and is set to do something she will to assist him.
Mahi and Mahyar are attempting to carry over Saman to Canada on humanitarian grounds however the utility course of has been troublesome.
“For someone like Saman we can clearly see that there’s a lot of obstacles for him to be able to come to a safe place when his life is in danger and he has to change locations every day,” Mahi informed Global News.
“I would like to ask our Immigration system what can we do for someone like Saman?”
Saman wants 5 sponsors however he must be permitted first by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) for sponsorship stated Erica Olmstead, a Vancouver-based immigration lawyer at Edelmann & Co Law Offices.
“IF you don’t have that (UNHCR) it’s a full stop to the application no matter how sympathetic the circumstances,” Olmstead stated.
Mahi and Saman stated the issue, is that he must hand over his paperwork to get that UNHCR approval. Doing so may probably expose his whereabouts to the Islamic Republic which is reportedly after him.
“If they go forward to the UN or country government it’s possible that information could get shared with the host country of Iran and it could put their life at risk. There are problems in the process where you’re requiring a person as part of this refugee resettlement application to get a document that is impossible for them to get,” Olmstead added.
She stated that’s the brink that should be met to even be thought of eligible to be sponsored. The solely different pathway, she added, is to hyperlink as much as a sponsorship settlement holder who can sponsor individuals who haven’t been permitted by the UNHCR, however these teams have caps on the quantity that be sponsored and require proof of adequate funds for the primary yr to assist the person.
In October, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined the primary Freedom Human Chain in assist of demonstrators combating for his or her freedoms in Iran. During the rally, Trudeau known as the Islamic Republic a “brutal regime that does not represent the beautiful Iranian people, that does not represent the spirit of Iran.”
Mahi stated she appreciates all of the verbal assist the Government of Canada has made towards the revolutionary motion in Iran and Iranian demonstrators, however she stated “at this point we need action.”
Dozens of Iranian-Canadians have expressed to Global News that they might respect the identical insurance policies made for Ukrainian refugees towards Iranians like Saman in want of a protected place.
In an electronic mail response, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada wrote: “The Government of Canada is deeply concerned about the people affected by the situation in Iran. We are actively monitoring the situation and engaging with our international partners to determine how Canada can best assist. When responding to international crises, there are often similarities in that people may be fleeing persecution of some sort, but the immigration response may differ.”
Olmstead stated what the federal government did for Ukrainian refugees was distinctive.
“They actually made everyone eligible for a work permit to come here which was a very quick process to get them here on temporary status, two or three years,” she stated. “No other refugee-producing country has been given any sort of program like that.”
The possibility for all different refugees, Olmstead added, is the Overseas Refugee Resettlement course of which may take two to 3 years or extra to course of for the individual to finally arrive in Canada. In Saman’s case, she stated the federal authorities may grant a waiver based mostly on the circumstances given the assist Saman has in Canada.
Time just isn’t on Saman’s aspect.
His well being, he stated, is deteriorating with instant medical care wanted for his eye, which is getting smaller and wishes an implant. The preliminary surgical procedure he obtained in Iran, he stated, was fast and solely saved the anatomy of his eye.
Mahi stated “we have been in contact with him. We’ve been trying to help him, my brother, and (me). My brother looked into ways to raise money for him both for his medical care and his legal fees.”
GoFundMe wouldn’t settle for Saman’s case because of U.S. sanctions towards Iranians, however a fundraiser web site, GiveSendGo is accepting donations for Saman’s medical and authorized charges.
Saman stated he goals of going again to Iran however can’t for apparent causes.
He needs folks to know that what is occurring in Iran just isn’t a protest over the hijab however “a revolution. This is not a protest. We don’t need to edit the government system.”
Saman stated the Islamic Republic is a risk to the world and would love his folks to only have a standard life.
“Iranians are kind people. They deserve a real life. This is not a life. This is torture,” Saman stated.
