Watch above: a woman who fears she may be killed if sent back to Pakistan has lost her bid to stay in Canada
UPDATE: Saskatoon woman fearful for her life deported to Pakistan
SASKATOON – A Saskatoon woman’s application to avoid deportation to Pakistan has been denied by a federal judge.
Jamila Bibi was detained last week and sent to a woman’s facility in Prince Albert, Sask., where she learned that she would be deported back to Pakistan, according to her Winnipeg-based lawyer.
Bibi is facing adultery charges in Pakistan, which her lawyer disputes, but says makes her a possible target for a ‘honour killing.’
“She stated that she prefers to die here, in a jail cell, than to go to Pakistan,” said Bibi’s lawyer Bashir Khan.
However, a federal judge wrote in the ruling that two previous assessments had been completed on the risk that Bibi would face if she returned to Pakistan. The ruling also stated that those assessments came back negative and no new risks or evidence of such was being raised at this time.
Bibi arrived in Canada in 2007 and Khan said she was denied refugee status in 2011. He took her case to the United Nations, which Khan says is still investigating.
Last Friday, he learned that his client was in the hands of authorities and slated to be expelled from Canada in mere days.
“That did not leave much time for me to get to Prince Albert, to get the relevant signatures from Ms. Bibi,” said Kahn, who filed a last minute motion that would have kept Bibi in Canada.
The case has drawn protests in Saskatoon. On Sunday, a group gathered at city hall, chanting “free Jamila” and calling for the government to reconsider.
Sahana Yeasmin is one supporter; she employed Bibi at Meg’s Restaurant and befriended her.
“I am very scared, last night I couldn’t even sleep,” said Yeasmin before the ruling came down.
“Maybe we can reach our government’s heart to solve this situation for this poor lady.”
Khan stated that Bibi is now in the Saskatoon police’s detention unit and is scheduled to be deported early Tuesday morning.
He added that the minister of public safety and emergency preparedness in Ottawa could stop the deportation.
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