More than 60 people gathered at Elmer Gish School for a candlelight vigil Thursday evening, demanding the federal government increase pressure to return four Canadian children abducted to a Kurdish war zone in northern Iraq. Their father, Dr.
More than 60 people gathered at Elmer Gish School for a candlelight vigil Thursday evening, demanding the federal government increase pressure to return four Canadian children abducted to a Kurdish war zone in northern Iraq.
Their father, Dr. Saren Azer, a highly respected Canadian physician of Kurdish descent, took Sharvahn, 11, Rojevahn, 9, Dersim, 7, and Meitan, 3, to France and Germany last August for a summer vacation.
Instead of fulfilling a court ordered custody agreement, he breached it, kidnapped the children and flew to northern Iraq. They are now believed to be in northern Iraq's Qandil Mountains, an area heavily shelled by Turkey.
Since the abduction, the mother Alison Azer, a daughter of St. Albert's Jeffrey clan, has worked tirelessly and appealed to numerous Kurdish and Canadian politicians to help find her children.
Tears, sadness and restrained anger were the hallmarks of the candlelight vigil as friends, family and supporters sat on chairs at Gish's outdoor nature bowl listening to Alison's older sister Elizabeth van Egteren describe the ordeal rippling across family lines.
“You put every playwright, every director together – Spielberg, Tarantino. You put all these brains together and they couldn't come up with this story. This story is unbelievable, but it's our life,” said van Egteren.
“Sometimes when I think about what is going on, I'm so angry, so furious, so mad I could scream.”
This was the eighth vigil taking place across the country urging the government to become involved in further diplomatic action.
St. Albert conservative MP Michael Cooper has taken an active interest in the case. He attended the vigil and spoke with passionate pragmatism.
“This is really important. There's not a lot you can do as individuals other than spotlight this issue. We are continuing to spotlight this issue so it doesn't fall under the radar of the government until the children are returned to Canada,” Cooper said.
He noted that political efforts come from across all party lines and urged the Liberal government to take bolder action.
“Canada is an ally of the KRG (Kurdish Regional Government). Being an ally is a two-way street. We are providing support to Peshmerga forces. Canada has tripled its capacity. The prime minister needs to call President Barzani and impress upon him that four Canadian children are kidnapped and in his territory and need to be returned.”
When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked in the House of Commons about the Liberal government's involvement in the Azer case, he pledged to do everything possible to bring the children back to Canadian soil.
But with no action in sight, John Waters, a former neighbour of the Jeffrey family, echoed the angry sentiments of many attendees at the vigil.
“It's too vague for my liking. I'm hoping he's saying this because something is going on. Panda bear selfies and hanging out with Obama is good, but if you want to be leader, get the kids out and I'll be in your corner for life.”
“He (Trudeau) said it's a high priority. But it should be a top priority. We need action. And even just as a human being, he could meet privately with Alison. You don't need to share it with the world – just as a father to a mother.”
Alison Azer and her family are returning to Ottawa next week to meet with high level dignitaries and they are hoping a private visit with Trudeau can be arranged.
In this tense political chess game where every day is a matter of life and death, they are waiting to see if the term Trudeau coined during the last federal election campaign, “A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian” is more than just a clever phrase to solicit votes.
Kimberley, van Egteren's daughter, also spoke at the vigil and commented that the family is “broken.”
“We cannot keep going forward. I ask you to stay united with us. I ask you to speak for these children who cannot speak for themselves.”
“There are no words to express the tremendous gratitude we feel for everyone that has stepped up to rally. You give us strength to keep moving forward. I thank you deeply. As a mother, as a fellow Canadian, I thank you deeply.”
