Last week, we were very pleased to welcome Syrian born Palestinian peace activist and former political prisoner Manar Al-Sharif to Canada.
Her ordeal, which began in solitary confinement in a Gazan prison, is over, and a new chapter can begin.
About Manar Al-Sharif
Al-Sharif is a Syrian-born journalist and peace activist who attended university in Gaza. While there, she became involved with the Gaza Youth Committee, a dynamic group of young Gazans working to create a better life for the people of Gaza, including through grassroots peacebuilding initiatives for Israelis and Gazans.
She and her colleagues regularly hosted small online video chats with Israelis under a bridge-building initiative they called “Skype with Your Enemy.” After a particularly well-attended online gathering in April 2020, Hamas arrested the youth committee’s leadership and charged them with “holding a normalisation activity” with Israelis. Most organisers were sentenced to six months in prison.
After spending three months behind bars, some of that time in solitary confinement, Al-Sharif was released but forced to stay in a “home for women” under 24-hour supervision. Labelled a “dangerous person” by Hamas, she was then deported from Gaza to Egypt in October, 2020. Her situation remained precarious and vulnerable.
Our Centre’s Role
Our team became involved in advancing Al-Sharif’s immigration case and facilitating her safe and smooth arrival to Canada, where she is now pursuing further studies.“In a time marked by increasing polarization and tragedy, finding moments of inspiration can be challenging. Welcoming Manar to Canada and to freedom is one of those moments. I look forward to witnessing her light shine brightly in her new home.”
- Gila Cotler, RWCHR CEO
We are deeply grateful to community members who asked us to assist in bringing Manar to Canada. We express special thanks to Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, to Citizenship Canada, and the collaborators inside and outside this country who helped secure this life changing (and quite possibly life saving) opportunity for her.
“My overarching mission goes beyond merely amplifying the voices of the disenfranchised in light of diverse social and political challenges. It extends to actively resolving long standing conflicts, curbing the pervasive loss of life, and propelling the establishment of enduring freedom and stability across the region.
Upon my arrival in Canada to pursue my education at Concordia, I am one step closer to achieving my goal. The journey to get here was arduous, yet it was made possible by the support of numerous individuals.
I sincerely thank Irwin Cotler and his team for collaborating with my immigration lawyers. My heartfelt thanks extend to dozens of others who have been instrumental in my journey.”
- Manar Al-Sharif, peace activist
Manar’s goals align with our values and hopes for her region. We have no doubt that her important voice will be heard by many in the years ahead, and we wish her every success.
For more on Manar’s ordeal and activism, read this feature in Forbes or this New York Times story.