Saudi teen calls herself 'lucky' after reaching Canada
Ottawa, Jan 15 (IBNS): Saudi teen Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who fled her family in the face of alleged death-threats from her near ones, called herself "lucky" after reaching Canada, media reports said.
Canada has agreed to give asylum to Rahaf.
Rahaf said she has joined all lucky people who experience independence in daily lives.
"Today, and for years to come, I will work in support of freedom for women around the world," Rahaf, who spoke through her translator, has been quoted by CTV News.
"The same freedom I experienced on my first day I arrived in Canada."
She was offered protection by UNHCR, and taken to a place of safety, while her claim was assessed by the UN agency, which decided that her claim was valid. Thai officials blocked Saudi requests for her to be sent back to Kuwait.
With political sentiment and public attitudes towards refugees having hardened in some countries in recent years, formal resettlement - the mechanism by which Ms al-Qunun has been accepted by Canada - is available only to a fraction of the world’s 25.4 million refugees, typically those at greatest risk, many of whom are women.
The case was dealt with on a fast-track ‘emergency’ basis in light of the urgency of her situation. al-qunun said that she would be killed if sent back home.
Welcoming the Saudi teen, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said as he was quoted by Hindustan Times, "Canada has been unequivocal that we’ll stand up for human rights and women’s rights around the world,” Trudeau said. “When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant miss (Rahaf Mohammed) al-Qunun’s asylum, we accepted."
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