My name is Hanna Bohman and I just returned from a 15 month tour in Syria where I was fighting with the YPJ against ISIS. (Google my name to verify) I've been back in Canada for less than a week and am trying to get as much information about getting a dear friend, and fellow YPJ soldier, into Canada. The war has made Rojava, the Kurdish region of Syria, very difficult to build a life in and with the threat of a new war with the Assad Regime and/or Turkey, there is virtually no future. Add to this the fact my friend no longer has any family left in Syria, it's completely understandable why she wants to leave. Actually, it's understandable why so, so many of the YPJ girls and YPG boys I worked with have asked me to help them come to Canada as we have a reputation in the middle east of being a very beautiful and safe country. Unfortunately, I can't help everyone who asked for my help as I would need a commercial airliner just to get them all here. I can however help my one friend as she has already taken steps to help herself. She left the YPJ and smuggled herself into Bashur where she was arrested and spent 28 days in jail for an illegal border crossing. (I was also smuggled across the border on four different occasions and can verify the arrests are politically motivated to appease Erdogan) She is now free in Bashur but is still under threat of being returned to Syria by the Barzani government if she cannot get proper paperwork which she is diligently working on. However, her ultimate goal is to come to Canada. I believe she is a good candidate as she in university educated, and is fluent in English, Kurmunji, and Arabic. Plus she has work experience as a teacher and manager. However, her greatest asset is her ability to work with westerners which is why, for a few months last year, she was the commander for all international volunteers within the YPG and YPJ. I can easily provide references from a dozen or more international volunteers as she was considered to be our biggest Kurdish ally within the YPG/YPJ and every volunteer who has worked with her would absolutely love to see her safe in Canada.
So my question is, what is the best and quickest way to get her to Canada? Is it sponsorship or refugee status? I'm not sure if she qualifies as a refugee as she may not be in terrible danger in Bashur but at the same time, Barzani has betrayed his fellow Kurds many times and my friend's position working with the western volunteers would make her a nice gift for Erdogan, who Barzani is sucking up too. We are very worried about her safety and future and we are doing everything we can to help her but getting correct information has proven to be difficult.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
So my question is, what is the best and quickest way to get her to Canada? Is it sponsorship or refugee status? I'm not sure if she qualifies as a refugee as she may not be in terrible danger in Bashur but at the same time, Barzani has betrayed his fellow Kurds many times and my friend's position working with the western volunteers would make her a nice gift for Erdogan, who Barzani is sucking up too. We are very worried about her safety and future and we are doing everything we can to help her but getting correct information has proven to be difficult.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!