avoid deportation had some hope Friday, September 8, that his case would be reviewed by authorities, supporters said.

The head of the Anglican Church of Canada was expected to make the case for Kazemian with Immigration Minister Monte Solberg.

"This is a very deserving applicant whose case deserves serious review by Mr. Solberg," Archbishop Andrew Hutchison told reporters. Kazemian, 41, sought sanctuary at St. Michael’s Anglican Church in East Vancouver in June, 2004, to avoid deportation to Iran where he could face execution for abandoning Islam.

"I feel terrible about that," the archbishop said in published remarks in reference to how long the case has dragged on. CanadianChristianity.com, a website which supported his case, said the Iranian’s plight "is helped by the fact that his mother — who arrived in Canada after him, with the same background of persecution in Iran — has received refugee status."

KEY FACTORS

Two other key factors fueling his supporters’ optimism are that there "is a new federal government and growing international disapproval of Iran’s government," the website
said.

Kazemian reportedly arrived in Canada from Tehran in 1997 on a visitor’s visa. Shortly after his arrival, he converted to Christianity from Islam. After his visa expired, Kazemian applied for refugee status, citing political imprisonment and torture in Iran. Although his mother would later join him and be accepted as a refugee, Kazemian was ordered deported in 2004.

Despite the years of confinement, Kazemian told reporters he has integrated his faith into his experience. "We are all waiting for a reason. At the right time, [God] is going to deliver me."

KEEPING BUSY

He has kept as busy as possible, helping people fix computers. However he admitted that he has been "really" tired. "In my culture, [when] it’s hard, we support family. I haven’t seen my ailing father in nine years; he is in UK I just miss my dad," CanadianChristianity.com quoted him as saying. 

"I love Jesus. I believe Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus didn’t fight with his enemies. He brought peace and nonviolence. Love and peace can bring nations to a stable position. With kindness, they can change," Kazemian added.

At least about seven people are reportedly seeking sanctuary from deportation in churches across Canada. Most are in Roman Catholic churches. (With BosNewsLife News Center, BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos and reports from Canada).

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