Update: Iranian refugee’s deportation delayed

TORONTO – Yesterday The Canadian Lutheran reported the urgent need of Seyed Mustafa Moosavy Khansary, an Iranian convert to Christianity who was facing imminent deportation back to Iran yesterday evening. That action was cancelled yesterday afternoon.

“Good News! Praise God!” wrote Rev. J. Derek Mathers in a Facebook update late yesterday. “Mustafa’s deportation was cancelled today and, for now, he remains in Canada.” He attributed the action to the “prayers of God’s people and the litigation of [Khansary’s] lawyer.” Rev. Mathers is pastor of the Church of St. Luke Lutheran in Toronto, which Khansary has been attending faithfully since September 2013. He was baptized at the church in April 2014.

“My thanks to all of you for coming together in prayer on his behalf,” Rev. Mathers writes in his recent update. “God moved some to forward the letter to their MP and MPP, to the Prime Minister’s Office and also to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (The Honourable Steven Blaney) who is responsible for the Canadian Border Service, who carry out deportations. My thanks also those who shared far and wide with friends, family and church.” Rev. Mathers first drew public attention to Khansary’s plight in an open letter to the Canadian Government posted on Facebook June 22, 2015.

In that letter, Rev. Mathers had noted concerns for Khansary’s safety if he were to be deported to Iran, as conversion to Christianity from Islam is an offense punishable by death in Iran. Rev. Mathers had also expressed concern that Khansary had been denied a refugee hearing, and was being deported without even conducting a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment.

“Please keep praying that God will move in the hearts of those making decisions about Mustafa’s case to return him from Maple Hurst Prison to the Toronto detention centre, or better yet, release him,” Rev. Mathers requests in his most recent update. “Pray that he will be granted permanent residency in Canada so he can continue to live for and share Jesus’ love with others.”

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