Our mission is to raise sufficient funds through an incorporated society called the
Foundation for Hope for Christadelphian Refugees
to sponsor at least some of our brothers and sisters who are currently
in danger in Turkey and other countries to emigrate to Canada.
Our brethren who have fled from Iran have done so because to convert from the state religion is against the law and potentially punishable by imprisonment or even execution. Initially refugees in Turkey were assisted by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) who assisting in resettling refugees in a number of countries, including Canada.
But several years ago, the UNHCR limited their operations in Turkey and transferred their files to the Turkish Immigration authorities. The government has unfortunately been less open to granting refugees permanent status and have been denying refugee applications which can result in their deportation to their place of origin, if they are not convinced to voluntarily return.
This is devastating for our brothers and sisters, many of whom have had active applications for 10 years or more only to look forward to possible re-imprisonment or even death. This is on top of restrictions on local travel, being unable able to legally work to support themselves and subject to arbitrary interrogation and arrest by Immigration police for almost any reason.
The situation is critical. The family we would like to sponsor initially is a couple with a seventeen year old son who is disabled with cerebral palsy. His father was imprisoned for several years for his faith in Iran before fleeing with his family to Turkey. Last year he was falsely accused of breaching his immigration conditions and recently received a deportation order but is appealing it. We pray that he may be spared and that we will be able to help him and his family.