[LINK] "Montreal a haven for homosexual Yemeni refugee"

[rfmcdonald]

CTV Montreal reports on a Yemeni man who has found refuge in Montréal, fleeing homophobic persecution.

Five years ago, Ala’a Jarban was a university student in Yemen. Now, he’s starting his life over in Canada, seeking refuge from a government hostile to his sexuality.

In 2011, inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, Jarban and some fellow students began protesting Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s 32-year-long rule.

“It started as a student movement and then more people joined who were not politically involved before,” said Jarban.

[. . .]

While taking a course in human rights work with advocacy group Equitas, he decided to declare his sexuality on his blog, a move that would garner him death threats from his home country. He decided to apply for asylum in Canada, a status he was granted by the government.