Latest news with #EmbassyofCanada
Arab Times
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
A cultural bridge of connection: Kuwait, Canada mark 60 years of partnership
KUWAIT CITY, April 10: Art and culture serve as powerful instruments of diplomacy, offering a universal language that transcends political and linguistic barriers. Cultural initiatives foster mutual understanding and goodwill between nations by showcasing shared values, diverse perspectives, and creative expression. They also build bridges of empathy and dialogue, reinforcing the foundation of international relationships. In a vivid display of creativity and diplomacy, the Embassy of Canada, in collaboration with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, has launched a fascinating art exhibition celebrating 60 years of Kuwait-Canada diplomatic relations. The 'Kuwait-Canada: Celebrating 60 Years of Connection' exhibition opened on April 7 at the Kuwait Museum of Modern Art and runs through April 11. Featuring moving works of Kuwaiti visual storyteller Thuraya Al Baqsami and celebrated Canadian painter Reza Doust, it reflects on shared values, cultural richness, and enduring friendship. 'It is the perfect time to reflect on our partnership and decades of connections forged between our countries and people,' said Canadian Ambassador to Kuwait, Aliya Mawani. Blending Al Baqsami's vibrant narratives, who is known for championing women in art, with Doust's soulful portraits and deep appreciation for Kuwait's heritage, the exhibition serves as a cultural bridge. It reminds visitors that beyond diplomacy and trade, it is often art that truly binds people together. 'This exhibition explores the essence of human expression, featuring the works of esteemed Kuwaiti artist, Thuraya Al Baqsami – an inspiring figure in Kuwait's art scene, and a champion of women's contribution to the country's artistic landscape, and renowned Canadian artist and portrait master Reza Doust, whose deep connection to Kuwait is reflected in his passion for its heritage, environment and people,' noted Aliya Mawani, in her welcome speech. 'It is fitting that the exhibition focusses on human expression, because diplomacy at its heart is first and foremost about people,' she continued. 'In their works, Thuraya and Reza beautifully capture the diversity and distinctiveness of our people, as well as what we have in common, what we hold dear, and what binds us together.' Emphasizing the crucial role of arts and culture in diplomacy, Aliya Mawani suggests they foster understanding and cooperation among nations by reflecting shared hopes, fears, and dreams. She argues that arts and culture enable better problem-solving and relationship-building by providing a medium through which diverse identities can be explored and communicated. 'Art and culture is central to diplomacy, because diplomacy is really about relationships and solving problems,' she observed. 'We can do that so much better if we understand each other, and arts and culture help us do that, because it reflects our hopes, fears, dreams, and identity.' Additionally, she says, these cultural expressions create safe spaces for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas, which is essential for diplomatic connections and cultural unity. ' I believe art and culture allow us to have conversations. It creates spaces for conversations that we can't have in other ways. It also creates safe spaces where we can explore ideas and possibilities. I think it's integral to diplomacy and connecting people, cultures, and nations.' Ambassador Mawani shared her admiration for the collaboration between Thuraya Al Baqsami and Reza Doust. She highlighted their exceptional creativity, focus on humanity, appreciation for details, and strong power of observation. 'I love the collaboration between the two artists. I know each of them separately and admire their work. They're both exceptional artists and creatives, and I love that humanity is at the core of their work. They put so much wonderful detail into their work. What I also find compelling is that they challenge the idea of what is worth painting, who is worth painting, because their stories, the people they focus on, and their work is about the power and the beauty in each person.' Highlighting cultural ties between Canada and Kuwait, Thuraya Al Baqsami said, 'I am more than happy to collaborate. It is a great way to focus on the relationship between two countries. Apart from politics and commerce, art and culture also play a big part in this relation. And when the Canadian Embassy chose me to represent Kuwaiti artists in this exhibition, I was delighted. It is a big honor for me.' Al Baqsami was especially happy to present her work alongside Doust, a noted Canadian artist of Iranian descent from British Columbia with whom she has a personal and professional connection. 'Doust is an old friend. It is easy for me to exhibit my work with a friend. He lived many years in Kuwait. He knows our society and way of life well. He is well known in Kuwait and has often shown his work here. I love his art, and this love and friendship is reflected in this exhibition.' Underscoring the importance of art in bridging cultures, she says, ' This exhibition is a good sign that both countries are interested in promoting art and culture.' Thuraya Al Baqsami also expressed her enthusiasm for the international exchange of art and culture, suggesting that Kuwaiti embassies should host similar exhibitions to foster deeper international relations and enhance the perception of Kuwaiti artists abroad. ' I wish our embassies abroad would do something similar. Exchanging art and culture can only make relations between countries deeper and stronger. It will also enhance the image of Kuwaiti artists abroad. I wish more embassies in Kuwait would engage in similar activities and strengthen cultural relations by collaborating with Kuwaiti artists.' She was quick to praise the significant support provided by the NCCAL in facilitating the event, which affirmed the government's commitment to encouraging cultural activities in Kuwait. Canadian portrait artist Reza Doust brings more than paint to canvas—he brings connection. Born in Esfahan in 1960 and based in British Columbia since 1998, Doust has spent decades using his art to build cultural bridges, particularly between Canada and the Persian Gulf region. His deep bond with Kuwait, the first foreign country he visited, has shaped much of his creative journey. 'Kuwait feels like a second home,' Doust shared. 'There's a natural cultural closeness with Iran, and I've always felt understood and supported here.'Known for his expressive figurative works, Doust draws inspiration from the complexity of human emotion—a glance, a smile, or a moment that speaks volumes. 'Every portrait I exhibit begins with a powerful emotional spark,' he says. Now, in his first-ever two-artist exhibition, Doust joins Thuraya Al Baqsami, blending their unique visual languages in a compelling artistic dialogue. 'It's a meaningful collaboration—viewers get to experience two very different approaches to figurative art in one space,' he notes. Doust continues to champion cultural exchange through his art, proving that a portrait can do more than capture a face—it can connect hearts across borders.
Boston Globe
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Deportees from the US hop embassy to embassy in Panama in a desperate scramble to seek asylum
In February, the United States deported nearly 300 people from mostly Asian nations to Panama. The Central American ally was supposed to be a stopover for migrants from countries that were more challenging for the U.S. to deport to as the Trump administration tried to accelerate deportations. Some agreed to voluntarily return to their countries from Panama, but others refused out of fear of persecution and were sent to a remote camp in the Darien jungle for weeks. Earlier this month, Panama released those remaining migrants from the camp, giving them one month to leave Panama. The government said they had declined assistance from international organizations, instead choosing to make their own arrangements. But with limited money, no familiarity with Panama and little to no Spanish, the migrants have struggled. Advertisement Seeking asylum door-to-door On Tuesday, about a dozen migrants began visiting foreign missions in Panama's capital, including the Canadian and British embassies, and the Swiss and Australian consulates with the hope of starting the process to seek refuge in those countries. They were either turned away or told that they would need to call or reach out to embassies by email. Messages were met with no response or a generic response saying embassies couldn't help. In one email, Omagh detailed why he had to flee his country, writing 'please don't let me be sent back to Afghanistan, a place where there is no way for me to survive.' 'The Embassy of Canada in Panama does not offer visa or immigration services, not either services for refugee. Nor are we allowed to answer any questions in regards to visa or immigration,' the response read. Advertisement At the British Embassy, a security guard handed asylum-seekers a pamphlet reading 'Emergency Help for British People.' The Swiss consulate told the group they would have to reach out to the embassy in Costa Rica, and handed the migrants a piece of paper with general phone lines and emails printed from the embassy's website. Canadian, British and Australian diplomats in Panama did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. The Swiss consulate denied that they turned away the asylum-seekers. Panama limbo The migrants had travelled halfway across the globe, reached the U.S. border where they sought asylum and instead found themselves in Panama, a country some had traversed months earlier on their way to the U.S. Many of the deportees said they would be open to seeking asylum in Panama, but had been told both by international aid groups and Panamanian authorities that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to be granted refuge in the Central American nation. Álvaro Botero, among those advocating for the migrants at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, said he wasn't surprised that they were turned away from embassies, as such help is often only offered in extreme cases of political persecution, and that other governments may fear tensions with the Trump administration. 'It's crucial that these people are not forgotten,' Botero said. 'They never asked to be sent to Panama, and now they're in Panama with no idea what to do, without knowing what their future will be and unable to return to their countries.' The Trump administration has simultaneously closed legal pathways to the U.S. at its southern border, ramped up its deportation program, suspended its refugee resettlement program, as well as funding for organizations that could potentially aid the migrants now stuck in Panama. Advertisement Over the weekend, the Trump administration sent more than 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador to be held in a maximum-security gang prison, alleging that those expelled were part the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang without providing evidence. Limited options remain On Thursday, the migrants visited the Panama offices of the U.N. refugee agency. Omagh said they were told that the agency could not help them seek asylum in other countries due to restrictions by the Panamanian government. A U.N. official told them they could help start the asylum process in Panama, but warned that it was very unlikely that Panama's government would accept their claim, Omagh said. The U.N.'s International Organization for Migration and the refugee agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment by the AP. The same day, Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. refugee agency, warned that aid cuts by the U.S. government would hurt refugee services around the world. 'We appeal to member States to honor their commitments to displaced people. Now is the time for solidarity, not retreat,' Grandi said in a statement. Deportees including Omagh worried that foreign governments and aid organizations were washing their hands of them. Omagh said that as an atheist and member of an ethnic minority group in Afghanistan known as the Hazara, returning home under the rule of the Taliban would mean death. He only went to the U.S. after trying for years to live in Pakistan, Iran and other countries but being denied visas. Russian Aleksandr Surgin, also among the group seeking help at the embassies, said he left his country because he openly opposed the war in Ukraine on social media, and was told by government officials he could either be jailed or fight with Russian troops in Ukraine. Advertisement When asked Thursday what he would do next, he responded simply: 'I don't hope for anything anymore.'
Washington Post
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Deportees from the US hop embassy-to-embassy in Panama in a desperate scramble to seek asylum
PANAMA CITY — Migrants from Afghanistan, Russia, Iran and China deported from the United States and dropped into limbo in Panama hopped door-to-door at embassies and consulates this week in a desperate attempt to seek asylum in any country that would accept them. The focus of international humanitarian concern just weeks before, the deportees now say they're increasingly worried that with little legal and humanitarian assistance and no clear pathway forward offered by authorities, they may be forgotten. 'After this, we don't know what we'll do,' said 29-year-old Hayatullah Omagh, who fled Afghanistan in 2022 after the Taliban takeover. In February, the United States deported nearly 300 people from mostly Asian nations to Panama. The Central American ally was supposed to be a stopover for migrants from countries that were more challenging for the U.S. to deport to as the Trump administration tried to accelerate deportations. Some agreed to voluntarily return to their countries from Panama, but others refused out of fear of persecution and were sent to a remote camp in the Darien jungle for weeks. Earlier this month, Panama released those remaining migrants from the camp, giving them one month to leave Panama. The government said they had declined assistance from international organizations, instead choosing to make their own arrangements. But with limited money, no familiarity with Panama and little to no Spanish, the migrants have struggled. On Tuesday, about a dozen migrants began visiting foreign missions in Panama's capital, including the Canadian and British embassies, and the Swiss and Australian consulates with the hope of starting the process to seek refuge in those countries. They were either turned away or told that they would need to call or reach out to embassies by email. Messages were met with no response or a generic response saying embassies couldn't help. In one email, Omagh detailed why he had to flee his country, writing 'please don't let me be sent back to Afghanistan, a place where there is no way for me to survive.' 'The Embassy of Canada in Panama does not offer visa or immigration services, not either services for refugee. Nor are we allowed to answer any questions in regards to visa or immigration,' the response read. At the British Embassy, a security guard handed asylum-seekers a pamphlet reading 'Emergency Help for British People.' The Swiss consulate told the group they would have to reach out to the embassy in Costa Rica, and handed the migrants a piece of paper with general phone lines and emails printed from the embassy's website. Canadian, British and Australian diplomats in Panama did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. The Swiss consulate denied that they turned away the asylum-seekers. The migrants had travelled halfway across the globe, reached the U.S. border where they sought asylum and instead found themselves in Panama, a country some had traversed months earlier on their way to the U.S. Many of the deportees said they would be open to seeking asylum in Panama, but had been told both by international aid groups and Panamanian authorities that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to be granted refuge in the Central American nation. Álvaro Botero, among those advocating for the migrants at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, said he wasn't surprised that they were turned away from embassies, as such help is often only offered in extreme cases of political persecution, and that other governments may fear tensions with the Trump administration. 'It's crucial that these people are not forgotten,' Botero said. 'They never asked to be sent to Panama, and now they're in Panama with no idea what to do, without knowing what their future will be and unable to return to their countries.' The Trump administration has simultaneously closed legal pathways to the U.S. at its southern border , ramped up its deportation program, suspended its refugee resettlement program , as well as funding for organizations that could potentially aid the migrants now stuck in Panama. Over the weekend, the Trump administration sent more than 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador to be held in a maximum-security gang prison, alleging that those expelled were part the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang without providing evidence. On Thursday, the migrants visited the Panama offices of the U.N. refugee agency. Omagh said they were told that the agency could not help them seek asylum in other countries due to restrictions by the Panamanian government. A U.N. official told them they could help start the asylum process in Panama, but warned that it was very unlikely that Panama's government would accept their claim, Omagh said. The U.N.'s International Organization for Migration and the refugee agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment by the AP. The same day, Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. refugee agency, warned that aid cuts by the U.S. government would hurt refugee services around the world. 'We appeal to member States to honor their commitments to displaced people. Now is the time for solidarity, not retreat,' Grandi said in a statement. Deportees including Omagh worried that foreign governments and aid organizations were washing their hands of them. Omagh said that as an atheist and member of an ethnic minority group in Afghanistan known as the Hazara, returning home under the rule of the Taliban would mean death. He only went to the U.S. after trying for years to live in Pakistan, Iran and other countries but being denied visas. Russian Aleksandr Surgin, also among the group seeking help at the embassies, said he left his country because he openly opposed the war in Ukraine on social media, and was told by government officials he could either be jailed or fight with Russian troops in Ukraine. When asked Thursday what he would do next, he responded simply: 'I don't hope for anything anymore.' ___ Janetsky reported from Mexico City.
Boston Globe
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Deportees from the US hop embassy-to-embassy in Panama in a desperate scramble to seek asylum
In February, the United States deported nearly 300 people from mostly Asian nations to Panama. The Central American ally was supposed to be a stopover for migrants from countries that were more challenging for the U.S. to deport to as the Trump administration tried to accelerate deportations. Some agreed to voluntarily return to their countries from Panama, but others refused out of fear of persecution and were sent to a remote camp in the Darien jungle for weeks. Earlier this month, Panama released those remaining migrants from the camp, giving them one month to leave Panama. The government said they had declined assistance from international organizations, instead choosing to make their own arrangements. But with limited money, no familiarity with Panama and little to no Spanish, the migrants have struggled. Advertisement Seeking asylum door-to-door On Tuesday, about a dozen migrants began visiting foreign missions in Panama's capital, including the Canadian and British embassies, and the Swiss and Australian consulates with the hope of starting the process to seek refuge in those countries. They were either turned away or told that they would need to call or reach out to embassies by email. Messages were met with no response or a generic response saying embassies couldn't help. In one email, Omagh detailed why he had to flee his country, writing 'please don't let me be sent back to Afghanistan, a place where there is no way for me to survive.' 'The Embassy of Canada in Panama does not offer visa or immigration services, not either services for refugee. Nor are we allowed to answer any questions in regards to visa or immigration,' the response read. Advertisement At the British Embassy, a security guard handed asylum-seekers a pamphlet reading 'Emergency Help for British People.' The Swiss consulate told the group they would have to reach out to the embassy in Costa Rica, and handed the migrants a piece of paper with general phone lines and emails printed from the embassy's website. Canadian, British and Australian diplomats in Panama did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. The Swiss consulate denied that they turned away the asylum-seekers. Panama limbo The migrants had travelled halfway across the globe, reached the U.S. border where they sought asylum and instead found themselves in Panama, a country some had traversed months earlier on their way to the U.S. Many of the deportees said they would be open to seeking asylum in Panama, but had been told both by international aid groups and Panamanian authorities that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to be granted refuge in the Central American nation. Álvaro Botero, among those advocating for the migrants at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, said he wasn't surprised that they were turned away from embassies, as such help is often only offered in extreme cases of political persecution, and that other governments may fear tensions with the Trump administration. 'It's crucial that these people are not forgotten,' Botero said. 'They never asked to be sent to Panama, and now they're in Panama with no idea what to do, without knowing what their future will be and unable to return to their countries.' The Trump administration has simultaneously closed legal pathways to the U.S. at its southern border, ramped up its deportation program, suspended its refugee resettlement program, as well as funding for organizations that could potentially aid the migrants now stuck in Panama. Advertisement Over the weekend, the Trump administration sent more than 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador to be held in a maximum-security gang prison, alleging that those expelled were part the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang without providing evidence. Limited options remain On Thursday, the migrants visited the Panama offices of the U.N. refugee agency. Omagh said they were told that the agency could not help them seek asylum in other countries due to restrictions by the Panamanian government. A U.N. official told them they could help start the asylum process in Panama, but warned that it was very unlikely that Panama's government would accept their claim, Omagh said. The U.N.'s International Organization for Migration and the refugee agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment by the AP. The same day, Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. refugee agency, warned that aid cuts by the U.S. government would hurt refugee services around the world. 'We appeal to member States to honor their commitments to displaced people. Now is the time for solidarity, not retreat,' Grandi said in a statement. Deportees including Omagh worried that foreign governments and aid organizations were washing their hands of them. Omagh said that as an atheist and member of an ethnic minority group in Afghanistan known as the Hazara, returning home under the rule of the Taliban would mean death. He only went to the U.S. after trying for years to live in Pakistan, Iran and other countries but being denied visas. Russian Aleksandr Surgin, also among the group seeking help at the embassies, said he left his country because he openly opposed the war in Ukraine on social media, and was told by government officials he could either be jailed or fight with Russian troops in Ukraine. Advertisement When asked Thursday what he would do next, he responded simply: 'I don't hope for anything anymore.' Janetsky reported from Mexico City.
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Deportees from the US hop embassy-to-embassy in Panama in a desperate scramble to seek asylum
Migrants from Afghanistan, Russia, Iran and China deported from the United States and dropped into limbo in Panama hopped door-to-door at embassies and consulates this week in a desperate attempt to seek asylum in any country that would accept them. The focus of international humanitarian concern just weeks before, the deportees now say they're increasingly worried that with little legal and humanitarian assistance and no clear pathway forward offered by authorities, they may be forgotten. 'After this, we don't know what we'll do,' said 29-year-old Hayatullah Omagh, who fled Afghanistan in 2022 after the Taliban takeover. In February, the United States deported nearly 300 people from mostly Asian nations to Panama. The Central American ally was supposed to be a stopover for migrants from countries that were more challenging for the U.S. to deport to as the Trump administration tried to accelerate deportations. Some agreed to voluntarily return to their countries from Panama, but others refused out of fear of persecution and were sent to a remote camp in the Darien jungle for weeks. Earlier this month, Panama released those remaining migrants from the camp, giving them one month to leave Panama. The government said they had declined assistance from international organizations, instead choosing to make their own arrangements. But with limited money, no familiarity with Panama and little to no Spanish, the migrants have struggled. Seeking asylum door-to-door On Tuesday, about a dozen migrants began visiting foreign missions in Panama's capital, including the Canadian and British embassies, and the Swiss and Australian consulates with the hope of starting the process to seek refuge in those countries. They were either turned away or told that they would need to call or reach out to embassies by email. Messages were met with no response or a generic response saying embassies couldn't help. In one email, Omagh detailed why he had to flee his country, writing 'please don't let me be sent back to Afghanistan, a place where there is no way for me to survive." 'The Embassy of Canada in Panama does not offer visa or immigration services, not either services for refugee. Nor are we allowed to answer any questions in regards to visa or immigration,' the response read. At the British Embassy, a security guard handed asylum-seekers a pamphlet reading 'Emergency Help for British People.' The Swiss consulate told the group they would have to reach out to the embassy in Costa Rica, and handed the migrants a piece of paper with general phone lines and emails printed from the embassy's website. Canadian, British and Australian diplomats in Panama did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. The Swiss consulate denied that they turned away the asylum-seekers. Panama limbo The migrants had travelled halfway across the globe, reached the U.S. border where they sought asylum and instead found themselves in Panama, a country some had traversed months earlier on their way to the U.S. Many of the deportees said they would be open to seeking asylum in Panama, but had been told both by international aid groups and Panamanian authorities that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to be granted refuge in the Central American nation. Álvaro Botero, among those advocating for the migrants at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, said he wasn't surprised that they were turned away from embassies, as such help is often only offered in extreme cases of political persecution, and that other governments may fear tensions with the Trump administration. 'It's crucial that these people are not forgotten,' Botero said. 'They never asked to be sent to Panama, and now they're in Panama with no idea what to do, without knowing what their future will be and unable to return to their countries.' The Trump administration has simultaneously closed legal pathways to the U.S. at its southern border, ramped up its deportation program, suspended its refugee resettlement program, as well as funding for organizations that could potentially aid the migrants now stuck in Panama. Over the weekend, the Trump administration sent more than 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador to be held in a maximum-security gang prison, alleging that those expelled were part the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang without providing evidence. Limited options remain On Thursday, the migrants visited the Panama offices of the U.N. refugee agency. Omagh said they were told that the agency could not help them seek asylum in other countries due to restrictions by the Panamanian government. A U.N. official told them they could help start the asylum process in Panama, but warned that it was very unlikely that Panama's government would accept their claim, Omagh said. The U.N.'s International Organization for Migration and the refugee agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment by the AP. The same day, Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. refugee agency, warned that aid cuts by the U.S. government would hurt refugee services around the world. 'We appeal to member States to honor their commitments to displaced people. Now is the time for solidarity, not retreat,' Grandi said in a statement. Deportees including Omagh worried that foreign governments and aid organizations were washing their hands of them. Omagh said that as an atheist and member of an ethnic minority group in Afghanistan known as the Hazara, returning home under the rule of the Taliban would mean death. He only went to the U.S. after trying for years to live in Pakistan, Iran and other countries but being denied visas. Russian Aleksandr Surgin, also among the group seeking help at the embassies, said he left his country because he openly opposed the war in Ukraine on social media, and was told by government officials he could either be jailed or fight with Russian troops in Ukraine. When asked Thursday what he would do next, he responded simply: 'I don't hope for anything anymore.' ___ Janetsky reported from Mexico City.
