Push to bring once-jailed Iranian activist to Canada for life-saving transplant | 24CA News
Thirty-three-year-old Elham Modarresi, an artist from Iran, went from protesting an authoritarian regime on the streets of Tehran to combating for her life in a Turkish hospital as she suffers liver failure.
Modarresi was imprisoned for 3 months in November 2022 after taking part within the Woman, Life, Freedom motion that rocked Iran in 2022, following the in-custody loss of life of Mahsa Jina Amini.
She escaped to Turkiye after her launch, the place she is now looking for asylum. But whereas she was imprisoned, she was denied treatment for a genetic liver dysfunction.
A wholesome Elham Modarresi earlier than her liver started to close down.
Nahid Modarresi
Elham Modarresi is presently in a Turkish hospital, the place she is being handled for liver failure.
Nahid Modarresi
Her sister Nahid Modarresi is now pleading for assist.
“Please help save my sister’s life,” she informed Global News by video chat from an undisclosed location in Turkiye. Global News can not reveal the precise location for her security.
“We don’t know what we’re doing. Please help my sister. Please. Canada. Young people, please save my sister,” she stated.
Iranian-Canadian human rights activists are banding collectively assist save Elham’s life, and are sponsoring her to return to Canada to get a life saving transplant that will be virtually not possible to achieve in Turkiye.
Nahid suffers from an autoimmune illness and might’t donate her liver, however in line with activist Nazanin Afshin-Jam, there are a number of volunteers who’re keen to offer in Canada.
“We’ve located different liver donors that are willing to supply a part of their liver to her,” Afshin-Jam stated.
B.C. resident Tara, who Global News has agreed to determine by her first identify for her safety, stated Elham is a hero to her and lots of others. Tara can be working together with Afshin-Jam and different activists to safe the transplant Elham must reside.
Elham Modarresi was denied entry to a crucial treatment for a genetic liver dysfunction whereas imprisoned in Iran for collaborating in anti-regime protests.
Nahid Modarresi
“Elham is a brave Iranian woman who stood up against oppression,” she stated.
Fellow activist, Reina Rezaie, has launched a GoFundMe marketing campaign to assist with Elham’s ongoing medical payments.
Tara and Afhsin-Jam say they each really feel a way of responsibility to assist somebody who fought for freedom of their homeland.
They’ve contacted Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada asking for an emergency non permanent residence visa so Elham can obtain the process right here.
“When the office of the Ministry of Immigration heard about a special case and the fact that it’s very urgent, they said that they would flag it and look at her entire dossier in a in an expedited manner,” Afshin-Jam stated.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada declined to touch upon the case, citing privateness issues.
Supporters are hoping to deliver Elham Modarresi to Canada so she will be able to endure a life-saving liver transplant.
Nahid Modarresi
Nahid stated if the surgical procedure isn’t finished, her sister may fall right into a coma.
While the paperwork permitting her to return to Canada is within the system, Elham’s personal system is shutting down, and her time is working out.
“I feel so close to Elham because I see her as a freedom fighter inside Iran,” Afshin-Jam stated.
“She was so courageous to return out and now she wants our assist.
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