A Syrian man, who lived in a Malaysian airport for over eight months and was detained by authorities, has revealed he is on his way.
Hassan Al Kontar, from Dama, Syria worked in the UAE for 11 years before becoming almost stateless when the war in Syria broke out and he was told to return to Syria to complete military service.
Mr Al Kontar refused, and therefore returning to his home nation became impossible. Thus began 10 months of wrangling with different nations to secure visas – all of which failed. When rejected from a Turkish Airlines flight at the Kuala Lumpur airport, Al Kontar had no option but to remain at the airport since March.
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Read more:
Syrian refugee arrested after living in Malaysian airport for months
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Over a six-month period, Mr Al Kontar, 37, documented his odd experience on social media, gaining over 18,000 Twitter followers, before he was taken into custody in Malaysia. It was feared he would be returned to Syria after indications from the Malaysian immigration chief Mustafar Ali.
However, in a video filmed in Taiwan airport and posted on Monday, Mr Al Kontar said his final destination would be Vancouver, Canada.
He thanked those who had followed his journey online, his family and friends, and in particular his lawyer for the latest development in his life, saying “I love you all.”
Mr Al Kontar did not reveal where he had been in the almost two months since his social media pages went silent, but at the time of his detention.
"Passengers at the boarding area are supposed to get on their flights but this man did not do so," Mr Ali had said in the first week of October.
“He is situated in a forbidden zone and we had to take the necessary action."
Mr Al Kontar had applied to Cambodia and Ecuador for asylum, but was refused. However, it seems from his video that attempts by Canadian citizens to lobby their minister for immigration have been successful.
Canada’s department for immigration could not be reached in time for publication, but as of January this year Pew Research Centre confirmed the country had resettled over 52,000 Syrians.
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
More on Yemen's civil war
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Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
The specs
Engine: 3.6 V6
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Power: 295bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: Dh155,000
On sale: now
