Having encountered many situations involving people wanting to escape their homeland, I tend to veer away from these cases because I have learned through firsthand experience how complicated immigration matters can be and how a lack of expertise in this area can create further complications. But, I could not ignore Vi's situation because her circumstances were such that she could not apply for help through the usual channels available to people. It was simply too dangerous for her. - Source Article
Simply Too Dangerous
Vi turned 18 in September of 2010. At a time when she should have been looking forward to life as an adult, she saw her options narrowing. Raised in a strict Muslim family, she had finished high school and wanted to go to university but her father would not allow that. Instead, he let her enroll in a secretarial course, but only until February, when she was to be sent back to Jordan to fulfill her obligation in an arranged marriage to her cousin. Her father threatened her with bodily harm if she did not comply and told her that he would take her passport from her in mid-February as it would be needed to arrange travel documents. Despite her fear and being continuously watched by her father and other relatives, Vi managed to communicate her situation to a number of people, including Jacob, who set up an online workspace and a private FaceBook group to bring together the good people who were willing help her.
Beginning of Viâs Journey
A group of over 40 individuals formed around Vi, and I became a member. As mid-February approached, we were unable to find a way for Vi to apply for asylum or landed immigrant status in another country. As she was being watched continuously going to embassies or organizations that might be able to help could put her in jeopardy. It became obvious to us that ensuring her physical well-being by getting her into another country was of paramount importance and this needed to happen by mid-February, before her father took her passport from her. So we raised funds and purchased a ticket to a country (here unnamed for security reasons).
Vi was able to enter this country on a three-month visa. If she has not been accepted by a third country as a refugee or under some other criteria when the visa expires, she will be sent back to her homeland, and what awaits her there is most certainly death. Her family will kill her for bringing shame to them, for running away, and for other reasons described in the article, â FREE VI- From Abuse, Arranged Marriage, and Sharia Law. There is no doubt about this.
A Hard Road
At present she is homeless, wandering from place to place with a napsack containing all of her worldly possessions, sleeping on couches. She has no viable skills (sheâs 18), and cannot get a work permit. We have bought time in order to look into the immigration policies of various countries to find one that will accept her. This, of course, involves filling in applications and processing time. During this period, she has no legal status in the country she is in, can work only for employers willing to pay her little under the table, has no family to turn to, and only the funds she has received through the small donations we have collected for her.
Help is needed. If you have knowledge of immigration matters, you could help by contacting Jacob Kramer at Jacob@supportatheism.com. If you can make even a small donation (the equivalent of the cost of a pizza you forego this month), that will help.
Thank you in advance.
For other articles on Vi, click here and here .
(Note: you can also check my previous DailyKos posts which contain the text of these articles and DailyKos conversations in the comments)
Sadie Fleming
SupportAtheism.com