Roghayeh Azizi Mirmahaleh has been in Canada for 5 years, her husband was killed in Iran
By Kamila Hinkson
CBC News,Feb 23, 2017 – Roghayeh Azizi Mirmahaleh, who was set to be deported to Iran next week, has been granted a two-year temporary residency permit and can stay in Canada, her lawyer has confirmed.
The 60-year-old who lives in Montreal spent three years in an Iranian prison for political activism. Her husband was executed in Iran before she moved to Canada five years ago.
Federal Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen granted the woman a special temporary residency permit Thursday morning, and she was released from custody hours later.
Azizi Mirmahaleh and her daughter, Sahar Bahrami, emerged from the downtown Montreal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office with their arms linked.
“She said she’s so happy that she’s with me [and] that she wishes every political prisoner in Iran would be free,” Bahrami said, translating from Farsi for her mother.
“We went through a really difficult time, but we’re happy that finally, finally…” she said, her voice trailing off.
Bahrami said the plan for today is to celebrate, but that her mother will continue to advocate for a free Iran.
Azizi Mirmahaleh will also be able to attend Bahrami’s wedding next month.
Fears of torture, death
Bahrami had said she feared her mother could face torture or even death if she was returned to Iran.
Azizi Mirmahaleh’s application for refugee status was refused in 2013. Her lawyer Stéphanie Valois said she believes the rejection was due to her affiliation with Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an exiled opposition group that backs the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Azizi Mirmahaleh and her husband had distributed pamphlets in Iran printed by the group.
Last month, a Canadian immigration officer decided it would be safe to send her back to Iran. Valois said that they will still be contesting that decision.
She had been detained at the immigration detention centre in Laval since Tuesday and was scheduled to return to Iran Feb. 28.
Roghayeh Azizi Mirmahaleh, 60, moved to Canada five years ago from Iran. Her refugee claim was denied. (CBC)