Winnipeg family begging for help to bring mother and 2-year-old son from Afghanistan

It was a plea echoed by the crowd in the room — reunite a woman and her son with family in Winnipeg.

The group at the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council is hoping writing letters to elected officials will prompt the federal government to intervene to help a 30-year-old mother from Afghanistan and her two-year-old son.

The family wants to hide their identity, fearing the woman and her son will be killed after her husband was shot dead in September.

“Right now we are feeling very helpless,” the woman’s father-in-law said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Right now we are feeling very helpless," the woman's father-in-law said.

“Most importantly, their lives are at risk in Afghanistan and also we want them to be coming here because they’re the only memories of my son left.”

His wife said both she and her husband have been feeling depressed.

“It’s the worst feeling I’ve had and I can’t even imagine an alone woman being back there, constantly moving to save her life and being at risk,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's the worst feeling I've had and I can't even imagine an alone woman being back there, constantly moving to save her life and being at risk," she said.

They’ve started an online petition as well. About 500 signatures have been collected as of Saturday.

Organizers say it’s complicated to bring the woman and her son to Canada, because claiming refugee status means you have to leave your home country.

The family nonetheless remains hopeful that they will be reunited with their Afghan relatives in Canada.