Risk of Deportation for Iranian Refugee Filmmaker; Canada: Mahshid Ahangarani Has 'Visited Iran Several Times'

Mahshid Ahangarani Farahani, an Iranian filmmaker who was accepted as a refugee in Canada in 2005, says she is facing the risk of deportation to Iran. She is the daughter of Manijeh Hekmat and sister of Pegah Ahangarani, both Iranian filmmakers, and became a permanent resident of Canada in 2008. Hana Marco, Mahshid Ahangarani's lawyer, states that her client is struggling with the threat of deportation to Iran while her films are banned there and a warrant for her arrest has been issued. The Iranian filmmaker has expressed concern that if she returns to Iran, she may be used as leverage to pressure the return of her mother and sister, who she claims have fled Iran since 2020. Although Mahshid Ahangarani Farahani obtained permanent residency in Canada through asylum, she traveled to Iran several times between 2008 and 2019. According to Canadian immigration laws, a permanent resident who has sought asylum due to fear from their home country may lose their permanent residency status if they return to their country of origin, as this may imply that they no longer fear that country. This Iranian filmmaker, who was unaware of this law, is now unable to apply for residency in Canada for one year. The Canada Border Services Agency first requested an explanation from Ms. Ahangarani Farahani in 2019. At that time, she learned that all her travels over the past decade had been monitored by the Canada Border Services Agency, and an investigation was ongoing. The Iranian filmmaker stated that she currently does not have a work permit and is deprived of public services such as government-covered healthcare. This report is based on a CP24 report.