Canadians stuck in Iran travel down passage to Turkiye to avoid Mideast conflict

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VAN PROVINCE, Turkiye – The historic Kapikoy border crossing traverses a mountain passage along the silk road.

It’s been a vital link between Turkiye and Iran since the 17^th century, and for the last two weeks, war-weary travellers have made their way down a long pedestrian passage, as they walk towards a haven for themselves and their families.

On Monday, a team of Canadian consular officers on the ground at the border shared that this is the busiest day they’ve seen yet, with hundreds crossing into Turkiye. They’re hoping to assist Canadians who they’ve been told are waiting on the Iranian side of the border, as their families wait on the Turkish side, desperate to see their loved ones.

A Vancouver father, who asked that we only use his first name, Marjan, shares that he’s waiting for his wife Moji, their one-year-old daughter Nia and three-year-old daughter Meela.

“I’m super worried about their health, I just need to meet them here safe, that’s it,” Marjan said. “That’s the only thing I need in this moment … I don’t need anything in the world, I just want to meet them. Nothing else.”

Marjan says he’s been relying on a third party in Iran to relay messages back and forth to his wife, and he’s been told they’re on their way to the border. He flew from Vancouver on the hope that he would meet them.

“Since this conflict began, there’s been no way to easily communicate with Canadians in need of assistance on the other side of the (Iranian) border,” said Philemon Leroux, a Canadian consular officer, saying communications throughout Iran are down.

CTV News is at the border, tracking the movement of Canadians trying to flee the war.

‘It makes us human’

Mohammad Asadi says he flew more than 3,000 kilometres from Germany to wait for his aunt, a B.C. resident, to cross.

“I’ve been standing here for the last several hours waiting to see my aunt,” he said, claiming she travelled to Tehran to visit family before the war broke out.

Asadi says he was the closest in distance and told her family in Canada that he would come and help her.

“It makes us human beings to be with your family, to help your family when they’re in need, to help whoever we can,” said Asadi.

Many who spoke with CTV News are fleeing urban areas that they say are under heavy bombardment by United States and Israeli forces.

The neighbourhood where Marjan’s family were staying was targeted in multiple strikes, leading him to, at times, fear the worst.

Though on this day, he would only shed tears of joy. CTV News was there as he walked out of the border crossing building with Meela in his arms, both smiling ear to ear.

When asked what it meant to have his daughter back in his arms, he replied: “Peace and home. Just those two words.”

When his wife saw her husband standing there waiting, she says everything stopped.

“I am alive for this moment,” she said.

As the family load their bags and belongings into a large white van and wave goodbye as they drive off, CTV News learns that Asadi isn’t so fortunate.

Left waiting into the night, Iranian border agents won’t let Asadi’s aunt cross, claiming she needs a visa for Turkiye to enter with her Canadian passport. But they’re wrong: Canadians don’t need a visa to enter Turkiye.

Canadian consular officers work the phones with Canada’s embassy in Turkiye, but they admit their hands are tied. Canada doesn’t have strong diplomatic relations with Iran, and their embassy closed in 2012.

After several difficult hours Asadi makes the decision to try and cross over into Iran.

He’s turned away. They won’t allow him in.

“Now she’s a lady alone on that side in this cold weather, left to sleep on the floor overnight until we can try and figure something else out,” said Asadi.

This is the reality for so many displaced during a time of war. While some are homeward bound, others wait in the darkness, hoping a new day will bring their loved ones home.