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8 Apr 2016

Canada grants refugee status to gay Malaysian

Canadian media have reported that Mr Hazim Ismail, a gay and atheist Malaysian student, is allowed to stay in the country as a refugee

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada made the decision to  following a 20-minute hearing on Tuesday.

Mr Hazim is a a student at the University of Winnipeg and had claimed asylum after fearing for his life if sent back to Malaysia.

It was reported that Hazim’s family disowned him and refused to pay his Canadian school fees after they discovered his sexuality.

Hazim alleged that he was threatened by members of the public in Malaysia due to his sexuality and remarked that it would be impossible for him to live in the country under the radar as his story has attracted media attention.

"It (the board's decision) was overwhelming and I feel really, really, loved and appreciated," Mr Hazim was quoted in an interview with CBC. "I'm trying to fight for survival because Malaysia's not welcoming of homosexuals," he added.

Mr Hazim's lawyer Bashir Khan said "Hazim walked in as a refugee claimant and he is walking out as a protected person.”

Reader's Comments

1. 2016-04-08 16:10  
Bravo Canada!
2. 2016-04-08 17:01  
I am from Malaysia too. Being a homosexual is not easy and I have been living under the pressure as homosexual is banned and imprisonment of up to 20 years.
3. 2016-04-08 21:47  
Malaysia worse then I thought, Canada made right decision
4. 2016-04-08 21:51  
We're so glad to have you in our country! Welcome! May you have much success here!
5. 2016-04-09 00:58  
I am malaysian live in USA. I love Canada. Gay friendly country.
6. 2016-04-09 01:06  
Well done Canada, protecting those that need it
7. 2016-04-09 02:08  
Brilliant some sense in the world at last! Congratulations I hope you will be so very happy there and fully enjoy yourself and all the world has to offer.
Robert. London
8. 2016-04-09 05:53  
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/manitoba/gay-atheist-u-of-w-international-student-afraid-to-go-home-to-malaysia-1.3347820

"He was recently diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. He says he was at a crisis centre multiple times for attempted suicide. He says the whole experience has left him battling anxiety."

It'd be good to get the family's side of the story.

He likes to be heard:
"http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/manitoba/racism-in-winnipeg-newcomer-to-canada-shares-colourism-experience-1.2932535"

9. 2016-04-09 07:24  
And what would you like to hear from the family, GTiLad? Exactly why would it be "good" to get their story?
10. 2016-04-09 12:25  
Good for you ! Malaysia is the last place you wanna be in if you're gay. I'm blessed with very accepting friends and family since I came out at age of 15 but it still hard to be the real you in this place, you always have to "behave"
11. 2016-04-09 13:53  
Yank, in order to ascertain if they "stopped" his money due to him identifying as gay or being atheist or both. Or some other reason.

Did they have money to support him for the full course?

Are they a very religious family?

Isn't it always "good" to get all the facts? Unless there is some other agenda of course.

This guy has borderline personality disorder remember.
12. 2016-04-09 17:42  
http://myinforms.com/en/a/22254569-gay-university-of-winnipeg-student-told-to-die/

Maybe this was evidence in the canada case?

Anyway, he's 27. Why isn't he working to pay for his overseas education?

Good luck to canada.

I'm not a professional, so I'll ask another question: is it a good idea to study psychology if you have borderline personality disorder? Maybe it helps?
13. 2016-04-10 04:54  
Glad to see Canada is still an understanding country! Malaysia is not a friendly country when it comes to the LGBT community. I wish the best for this young man; may his life get better! Hopefully the world with keep applying pressure to these countries that are don't allow people to live their lives in peace and pursue their dreams.
Comment #14 was deleted by its author on 2016-04-13 05:36
15. 2016-04-12 02:23  
GT, you have found your vocation: private eye to sprinkle a little bit of discredit on those so-called persecuted gays! After all, can one really trust someone who has a borderline personality disorder, or who (maybe) does not work to pay his tuition fee? And on top of that, he studies psychology which conclusively makes his claims suspicious. But worst of all, he seems to be a... ANTI-RACISM ACTIVIST!

Please offer your services to the Malaysian government: I am sure they will appreciate them. If they fail to hire you (which I cannot imagine), you have good chances with Malaysian tabloids too. Oh I forgot: in this particular case, they don't need your help.
16. 2016-04-12 05:03  
So, you agree that this isn't a purely open-shut case of a gay person being hated by Malaysia?

Yes, I find it wrong for people to be victimized and to live in fear. But, as I have said before, spreading unsubstantiated fear for political gain is equally as bad, if not worse.

27yo and expecting family support for education? Internet begging when they say no (for whatever reason)? Come on. I'll happily play along with a good magician's miss direction. Not this however.
17. 2016-04-13 00:24  
As a senior citizen of Canada, I am proud to be a Canadian governed by an open and democratic government that protects all of us equally. Canada needs more open honest peoples of the world to make our country an even better country to live in. Gays of the world, come and move to Canada and enjoy true equality.
18. 2016-04-13 01:59  
You want gays ghettoised?

lol

I'm sure it gives a warm reception to all. It's still a mainly cold country.
19. 2016-04-13 05:55  
we all gays are brother, its like very big family.
so, we all gays anywhere should be thankful for Canada that protect one of our brother there.

the action of thankful that we all gays anywhere in the world should contribute to Canada.

Banning and imprisonment Gay are crime, and people doing so diagnosed having mental disorder that should get cured by chemical injection or chemotherapy or by electrical shocked
or should get rahabilitation for some years


Comment edited on 2016-04-13 06:15:55
20. 2016-04-26 06:54  
Welcome to the country. We have 4 month of summer where I am lol. If like one person stated ( ass as a photo) he may have border line personality disorder. He can get help here for that too.
21. 2016-05-01 16:06  
Good u help a lot of lgbt people may this young guy find happinessthere
Comment edited on 2016-05-01 16:07:53
22. 2016-05-07 16:37  
Western immigration/refugee boards certainly don't grant favourably lightly, every thing pertaining to his acceptance would have been scrutinised down to the last detail, these things are not easy, his families input would not be of value given their alleged bias, he must have been able to submit evidence validating the claims put forward by his solicitors, it's a grand thing for him now he can get on building a good life
23. 2016-05-19 10:40  
Oh Canada my Canada!
My Japanese partner/spouse of 23 years and I (American ) could not get him status in the USA. He spent his life savings as a student in the USA for 12 years.
We immigrated to Canada 8 years ago.
It is a wonderful welcoming country.
Thank you Canada!

And Malaysian government is filth.

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