Help bring a Syrian trans woman to Canada

Help Sami, a Syrian trans woman refugee in Turkey, come to Canada

"People are afraid of the sea, but I'm afraid of people."

Sami wrote these words to a friend in September 2019. Just three kilometres separate the Turkish coast from the island of Kastellorizo Greece, but treacherous currents and unpredictable seas separate them. Under the moonlight, on a beach that welcomes tourists by day, Sami faced a choice: the threat of illegal deportation back to Syria or freedom and hope in Greece. In either case, death was a real possibility. Trembling and crying, Sami chose the sea.

Sami didn’t make it to Greece that night. Strong currents forced them further out to sea and after four hours of struggle, the Turkish coast guard pulled Sami from the water.

Sami fled Syria in 2013 to save their life. After being unwillingly conscripted into the Syrian Army, Sami was repeatedly sexually assaulted and blackmailed by an officer who discovered their hidden gender identity. Hopeless, Sami deserted the military, fled into hiding and was eventually smuggled into Turkey. Sami hoped to find safety in Istanbul, but instead they have faced homelessness, uncertainty and violence daily, under the constant threat of deportation to Syria.

Sami’s small suitcase holds everything they own and has shared cold, rainy nights on the streets of Istanbul with Sami. Your donation can help bring Sami and their suitcase to safety in Canada.

Who we’re sponsoring: Sami, a 27-year-old Syrian trans refugee in Turkey
Their situation: Struggling to survive day to day under constant threat of deportation to Syria
The opportunity: Private sponsorship to Canada
Fundraising goal: $18,000 for Sami’s settlement in Canada
Sami’s qualities: Resilience, courage, a kind heart and a strong will

The precarious situation of LGBTQ refugees in Turkey, especially trans refugees, has been reported in the international press, including recent articles that mention Sami specifically in the Guardian and Duvar Gazete, a Turkish media source.

Syria: A Childhood in Hiding

As a child in Damascus, Sami knew they were a girl in a boy’s body. And Sami’s parents knew their child was different too. Religious and conservative, they tried to beat that difference out of Sami. At 13, Sami’s father forced them to quit school and work for his friends, who also verbally and physically abused Sami in order to toughen them up and make them a real man. But inside, Sami always knew who they really were.

In 2011, aged 19, Sami was unwillingly conscripted into the Syrian Army. Sami lived in fear that their true gender identity would be discovered. Soon enough an officer recognized Sami’s vulnerability, repeatedly sexually assaulted them and blackmailed them. Fearing for their life, in December 2012 Sami deserted and fled to rebel-held territory in Syria. There Sami lived precariously for months under the constant shadow of hunger, homelessness and war, until in October 2013 they could be smuggled into Turkey.

Turkey: Hope turns to Despair

"I went straight to Istanbul, my goal was to get as far away from Syria as possible, I was able to get a job to support myself, and I was hoping for a better life . . . where I could express myself and my sexuality without restrictions, but all that evaporated in the air, when I tried to go public."

Sami learned quickly that Istanbul was not a safe space for queer and trans people. Sami was physically and verbally assaulted, but couldn’t report these attacks to the police since they were undocumented.

In 2014 Sami’s parents also fled Syria to Istanbul. Sami lived together with them until they discovered Sami’s Facebook page that confirmed their queer identity. They threw Sami out of the house and cut all ties with them.

In 2015, Sami was isolated, homeless and hopeless in a city that didn’t like Syrian refugees, especially queer ones. Sami began to question their faith and became an atheist. They knew to find safety, they had to escape Turkey

Escape Attempts and Threats of Deportation

Sami’s first attempt to flee Turkey to Europe was by land. At the Greek border crossing, they were arrested by the Turkish authorities, detained for five days, issued a deportation order and released.

Sami knew that returning to Syria would probably mean death. As a deserter from the Syrian Army, both the Syrian regime and the resistance would pursue Sami. Being an atheist doubled the risk. Being trans and queer increased the risk to Sami’s life exponentially.

Desperate, Sami quickly went to Izmir and tried again to escape by boat. The boat sank but after a few hours at sea Sami was able to swim ashore safely.

The next attempt by boat also failed. The Turkish Coast Guard seized and sank the boat, arresting all the occupants. Sami was detained and issued a new deportation order. When Sami applied to the Turkish government for a temporary protection card, they arrested Sami again, detained them for 15 days and only released them when they pledged to leave Turkey.

In 2017 Sami was finally registered with the UNHCR in Turkey as a refugee. They hoped for resettlement to a safe country, but the process is slow, bureaucratic and frustrating. In 2019 the Turkish government started deporting vulnerable Syrians, even those with temporary protection cards.

"Recently I was arrested by the police during the crackdown on Syrians in Istanbul. Despite my temporary protection card issued from Istanbul, they put me on the deportation bus to Syria. I cried and begged them not to be deported and I told them about my situation. I had to pay a bribe of 600 TL to the policeman who released me, but now I avoid being on the street or in the police areas."

This encounter with the police drove Sami to their most recent attempt to escape to Greece.

There is Hope

Despite a lifetime of violence, fear and uncertainty, Sami still has hopes for the future. At heart, they are an artist and a poet. All the graphic art on this page was created by Sami in difficult circumstances. Just recently they started to learn English and dream of returning to school and studying geography or astronomy. They dream of starting a family and raising children. They dream of becoming a Canadian citizen, but mostly they dream of living a life where they can be themself in safety.

"I want to build a better life, to have work and to study. I want to be free with anything I love and believe. I want to respect everyone as they are and I want everyone to respect me as I am. "

The Opportunity

Sami is a kind-hearted, ambitious and resilient person who would make a wonderful addition to this country. A group of private citizens in Toronto Canada, including Donald McCulloch and William Croson, have teamed up to bring Sami to a better life in Canada under the Canadian government’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees program.

Before we can submit an application to the Canadian government, we need to confirm that we have the funds necessary to support Sami’s first 12 months in Canada (CAD $18,000) and that we have a group of Canadian sponsors willing to help them settle into their new life. Your donation will help contribute to Sami’s first year in Canada, including shelter, food, clothing, furniture and startup costs. EVERY dollar that you give will go toward Sami’s first year of support.

All funds received will be deposited into the personal account of Donald McCulloch and William Croson at TD Canada Trust. Documentation of funds in this account will be submitted to the Canadian government along with Sami’s application. When Sami arrives in Toronto, Canada, these funds will be dispensed to Sami on a monthly basis for their first 12 months in Canada.

If you have questions or want to know more about Sami, please contact their Canadian friend Donald McCulloch on Facebook or at [email redacted] . 

Thank you for your support. And help spread the word by sharing this post!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bring-a-syrian-trans-woman-to-canada