On
July 28, 2014, the Immigration Court in Orlando, Florida, granted asylum relief
to another Syrian national represented by Silvia Manzanero, Esq, after finding that he had a well-founded fear
of persecution on account of his Christian faith.
Manzanero’s
client had fled Syria after he was kidnapped by a group of armed individuals,
who, after several verbal death threats, dragged him out of his placed of
employment, blindfolded him, tied his hands behind his back, and drove him to
an unknown location where he was kept by the captors for four days, tied to a
chair, and given virtually no food or water.
The captors continuously made derogatory comments about the Respondent’s
Christian religion and clearly indicated that his religion was the reason for
his kidnapping. . Although the Respondent reported his ordeal
to the local police, he received no protection nor was the kidnapping
investigated.
Upon
acknowledging that acts of persecution of the Syrian Christian minority were
thoroughly documented in the case, the Immigration Court found in favor of
Manzanero’s client.
This
decision came after the Immigration Court in Orlando granted asylum relief to another
of David F. Vedder, P.A.’s clients, also a Syrian national of Christian faith
represented by attorney Manzanero, on July 22, 2014.
These
grants of relief are not surprising. The
armed conflict that began with the pro-democracy demonstrations in March 2011
has thus far claimed the lives of over 160,000 Syrians.[1] Of
the country’s pre-war population of about 22 million people, over 2 million
have sought refuge outside the country, while more than 6.5 million Syrians
have been internally displaced.[2]
Syrian
Christians, in particular, have become the target of both extreme factions of
the opposition and the Syrian government forces. In areas controlled by the opposition, kidnappings
of Syrian Christians are on the rise.
Similarly, Syrian Christians are being forced to join the rebel groups,
flee their homes, or face death.[3] Likewise, The Syrian government has engaged
in attacks against Christians and other minorities in what has been interpreted
as an attempt to “bolster sectarianism”.[4]
[1] Anne Barnard, “Syria Death
Toll Reported to Rise By 10,000 in Less Than 2 Months” The New York Times, May
20, 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/20/world/middleeast/syria.html?_r=0 (last accessed, 07/30/2014).
[2] “2014 UNHCR country
operations profile - Syrian Arab Republic” http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e486a76.html
last accessed, (07/30/2014).
[3] Daniel Brode et al.,
“Syria’s Threatened Christians”, New York Times, June 28, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/opinion/syrias-threatened-christians.html
(last accessed 07/30/2014); Syrian Rebels Seek Control of Christian Village”, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/syria-al-qaida-rebels-control-christian-village
(last accessed 07/30/2014); “Syria Crisis: ISIS Imposes Rules on Christians in
Raqqa”, BBC, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26366197 (last accessed 07/30/2014); Washington Post,
145. “Islamic State Declaration Could
Lead to Schism” Associated Press, June 30, 2014. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/al-qaida-splinter-declares-new-islamic-caliphate
(last accessed 07/30/2014.)
[4] Jen Psaki, Spokesperson, U.S.
Department of State, “Christians Under Threat in Syria, March 3, 2014, http://m.state.gov/md222802.htm. (last accessed 07/30/2014.),
International Religious Freedom Report for 2012, U.S. Department of State,
Human Rights and Labor, www.state.gov/j/drl/irf/rpt/.
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Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, immigration attorneys at David F. Vedder, P.A. have substantial experience and proven ability to handle matters at all levels of complexity. To request an initial consultation or more information on our firm's range of services, call 386-274-0044, or email info@TheImmigrationFirm.us
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