Canada grants refugee status to openly gay, atheist Malaysian student

Canada has granted refugee status to an openly gay and atheist Malaysian student.

Hazim Ismail, who is studying in Canada, had his claim accepted by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada panel in Winnipeg after a 20-minute hearing yesterday.

The 20-year-old, a psychology major at the University of Winnipeg, was — as expressed in an interview with Canada’s CBC.ca — overwhelmed by the outcome.

“I feel really, really, really loved and appreciated,” said Hazim, who also stated that he feared for his life should he return to Malaysia.

Hazim had told the news channel in December that his family had disowned him and stopped paying for his education last year after finding out that he was gay and atheist.

In December last year, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help fund his studies.

“I’m trying to fight for survival because Malaysia’s not welcoming of homosexuals,” Hazim said, commenting on how the spotlight on him now has attracted various threats against him.

According to Hazim’s lawyer, Bashir Khan, this would mean that as a ‘protected person’, Hazim cannot be deported back to Malaysia.

“This is one of those cases where the evidence is strong. My client is very credible and he has got tremendous public support, and all of that came together and he won his claim without too much struggle at the hearing room today.”

ALSO READ: Malaysian transgender activist wins US award for women of courage

 



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