Coptic family given new hope after government reprieve

Australia's Coptic Christian community is welcoming the Federal Government's announcement it will review all the applications of those who have been refused asylum following the recent violence faced by Copts in their homeland.

The Boshra family are Sydneysiders who had been preparing to pack up their lives in Australia and head back to Egypt after the Australian Government rejected their claims for protection visas.

Ashraf Boshra, his wife Amany and daughters Maria, Mira and Monica moved to Australia four years ago to escape relentless violence against the Copts.
Maria, the oldest daughter, says she feels much safer in Australia.

"I feel like, (when) I go to work in transport, no-one will harass me or say anything to me, I'll go freely and come back home safe."

The family were told in March they must leave Australia by the end of June.

Amany Boshra says it has been difficult for the family to deal with.

"You feel that you had a hope and you lost this hope. How can we provide security to our daughters? It's our responsibility to (provide security for) our daughters, so that's why we are here," Amany told SBS World News.

But following a string of major attacks on Christians in Egypt, the Federal Government now says it will review their application.
Boshra family
"It is a good move that this Government is listening and this Government is working with us." Source: SBS
Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke says the Boshras and all other Egyptian Coptic Christians facing deportation will have their cases reassessed.

"We recognise that the state of emergency that has been declared in Egypt is serious and that Copts offshore will require a reassessment of their protection claims, and, obviously, we do not want to send anyone back into harm's way."

John Nour, from the Coptic Diocese of Sydney, says the community welcomes the announcement.

"It is a good move that this government is listening and this government is working with us as a Coptic community and as a minority, as a Christian minority, in Egypt."

The Boshras are encouraged, too, saying they see their future in Australia.

The two oldest daughters are hoping to continue their engineering and dentistry degrees in Australia, while the youngest aspires to work for the Australian Federal Police.

Middle daughter Mira says the prospect of remaining in Australia has restored hope that

"It makes us very happy. It's amazing. It feels amazing if we could live in such a safe place for a long time... forever. And it makes us able to see our future and plan for it."

The Boshra family are among more than 20 Copts who could be sent back to Egypt.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says Australia has a history of granting visas to the religious minority, who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's 90 million population.

But, he says, there are some cases that "might be in dispute."
Boshra family
"It makes us very happy. It's amazing": The Boshra family on the government's decision. Source: SBS
"Over the last 12 months, we've allowed something like 70 people from Egyptian background who have been found to be Coptic Christians, and, over the course of the last five years or four years or so, the number is something like 600. So, we do allow people in. There are some cases that might be in dispute. Now, in relation to those cases, we don't allow people to settle here if we have concerns about the veracity of their claims."

The Boshras say they were given no reason why their claims were rejected, other than they did "not meet the Minister's guidelines."

The father, Ashraf Boshra, says they are yet to hear from the government since it announced their application will be reviewed.

"I'm worrying, still worrying, about this news. There is no confirmation to accept us or no. So I hope we will see the decision as quickly as possible."

While there are no guarantees, his wife Amany says the family remains hopeful.

"We've got a new vision for the future. Maybe everything will be okay and the security that we come here to seek for our daughters, nearly we can get it."

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4 min read
Published 1 June 2017 9:44pm
Updated 14 June 2017 1:58pm
By Abbie O'Brien


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