Syrian refugee granted asylum after living in Malaysian airport for seven months
Hassan al-Kontar captured his time in the airport over social media, where thousands watched

After spending seven months stuck in a Mayalsian airport, a Syrian refugee has been granted asylum to live in Canada.
Hassan al-Kontar touched down in Vancouver on Monday night, where he was greeted by representatives of the two organisations that sponsored him to come to Canada as a refugee, the British Columbia Muslim Association and Canada Caring Society.
“I did not believe it until they showed me the ticket”, Kontar said to CBC News Canada when he arrived. “I said until I reach Canada, nothing is sure.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Kontar had been working in insurance and living the United Arab Emirates for five years when war broke out in Syria in 2011. He could not renew his passport because he had not completed his military service at home, BBC reports, but he did not want to return to Syria. Therefore, he continued to live illegally in the UAE.
“I am a human being and I don’t consider it right to participate in war”, Kontar said to BBC in April.
In 2016, he was arrested and the following year, he managed to get a new passport but was deported to Malaysia, a country which grants Syrians visa-free entry. Kontar had three months on his visa, and after it expired he tried to leave for Turkey, but was not allowed to board the Turkish Airways plane. He then went to Cambodia, but was sent back to Malaysia where he spent months stuck in the airport.
Kontar documented his daily existence on his Twitter account, which has amassed thousands of followers and allowed people all over the world to hear about his case.
During his months in the airport, he passed the time by knitting, turning the airport walkway into a makeshift treadmill, and living off extra aeroplane meals offered to him by airport employees.
In Canada, he will be staying in Whistler, a small town in British Columbia. He has been offered a full-time job at a hotel. He will initially be living with his sponsors until he can afford his own place.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
6 must-see homes in Boston
Feature Featuring a factory-turned-loft in South Boston and a wraparound roof deck in South End
By The Week US
-
The anger fueling the Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez barnstorming tour
Talking Points The duo is drawing big anti-Trump crowds in red states
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
The lesser-known Elsinore fault is a risk to California
The explainer A powerful earthquake could be on the horizon
By Devika Rao, The Week US
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Is the pro-Assad insurgency a threat to the new Syria?
Today's Big Question Interim leader accuses regime loyalists and 'foreign backers' of trying to 'divide and destroy' the country
By The Week UK
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff
-
The challenge facing Syria's Alawites
Under The Radar Minority sect that was favoured under Assad now fears for its future
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK