When Tima Kurdi heard about the tragic attacks in Paris, the pain of her family’s recent loss came flooding back.
Three-year-old Alan, his brother, 5, and parents were fleeing Syria for the safety of Europe when the smugglers’ boat taking them on their journey capsized.
Pictures of Alan’s lifeless body on a Greek beach struck a chord with people around the world, putting a face to the refugee crisis.
IN PHOTOS: World mourns drowned Syrian boy Alan Kurdi
The attacks in Paris, which took the lives of at least 129 people, have unleashed ripples of Islmaphobic and anti-refugee sentiment.
Kurdi said she does worry this will make the plight of migrants and refugees, already facing perilous journeys and uncertain futures, that much harder.
“They flee… from ISIS, they are coming for help. All of a sudden everybody is going to shut that door again for them.”
Still, Kurdi believes Canada can’t let proper protocol go by the wayside in order to get people into the country quickly.
READ MORE: Should Canada stop bringing in Syrian refugees because of the Paris attacks? Experts say no.
“Canada, yes, should be cautious and take their time and they should screen everybody to be safe,” said Kurdi.
However, she said Canada is in a different position than European countries, where people are crossing borders and entering countries with little to no documentation or screening.
“We are very, very far away from that,” said Kurdi, adding when refugees are accepted by officials in Canada “they know who they are bringing.”
“I would say please, take your time, do you best with security, but don’t take their hope away from them.”
Kurdi said if bringing 25,000 refugees to Canada by Jan. 1, 2016 will stretch screening to its limits, officials should push back their deadline.
READ MORE: 60% of Canadians disagree with Liberal plan to accept Syrian refugees: Ipsos poll
“I don’t want those evil people to come to our country.”
Instead of being fearful of refugees, Kurdi said, people should focus their attention on stopping the conflict that is forcing people to flee.
“They know they’re not welcome. But they have no choice.”
She said one brother’s application to come to Canada is well underway and it appears her family will join her soon. Alan’s father Abdullah Kurdi remains in Erbil, Kurdistan, and she said they speak often.
“He lost all his family,” she said of Abdullah. “It’s going to take a long time to heal from that tragedy.”
Kurdi urges people to put themselves in a refugee’s shoes.
IN PHOTOS: Powerful images of Europe’s migrant crisis
“I would just say, to the Canadian people, please open your heart, open your arms and welcome those refugees. They are families with kids…They should be in a safe place. Let’s welcome them.”
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