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Suaad Hagi Mohamud suing Ottawa for $2.5M

by Barbara McPherson | August 21, 2009 at 08:57 am

722 views | 22 Recommendations | 8 comments

Suaad Hagi Mohamud, a Canadian citizen, was trapped in Kenya for three months and is now suing Ottawa for $2.5M. She was refused permission to board her plane after visiting family. Canadian officials said she did not look like her passport photos. She was then stripped of her papers and jailed. It was only through the efforts of her lawyer, Raoul Boulakia that DNA was obtained from Suaad Hagi Mohamud's son, living in Canada that she could prove her identity.

Suaad Hagi Mohamud, 31, endured a "Kafka-esque nightmare" when KLM airline and Kenyan government officials said on May 21 she did not look like the photograph in her Canadian passport.

Mohamud, whose ordeal included nine harrowing days in a Nairobi jail, said today that she "thought my government would back me up."

"I was alone when my government let me down," she told a Queen's Park news conference.

Suaad Hagi Mohamud stated in her televised newsconference that she is taking this action in order to prevent others from enduring the same nightmare. Unfortunately it is coming to light that another case of identity dispute has surfaced. This one involves a Somali-Canadian.

The CBC says Abdihakim Mohammed, an autistic 25-year-old Somali-Canadian, was taken to Somalia five years ago by his mother because doctors thought being near extended family could help him.

The network says when she tried to bring Mohammed back to Canada through Kenya three years ago, she was told the person with her was not her son because he didn't look like his passport photo.

The case remains unresolved despite offers from Mohammed's mother to undergo DNA testing.

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Amy Judd

at 12:45 on August 21st, 2009

I wonder if she'll get it? That's a lot of money, although she did have to spend time in a Kenyan jail, which must have been awful.

Ed Arob (not verified)

at 19:27 on August 21st, 2009

C'mon of course its about the money, she should just be happy to be back in Canada, enough tax payer money has already been spent on her.

A very Proud Canadian (not verified)

at 02:29 on August 28th, 2009

You're right. It is a great deal of money. But how much money have those two overpaid civil servants in Kenya receive? Overpaid and living in the lap of luxary in a fully paid secure compound. I call upon ALL DECENT CIVIL SERVANTS to help disclose the names and home towns of the two civil servants accused of doing this. I think that we, as Canadians are entitled to know the character of people such as these two racists. I'm sure their friends and family will be happy to hear about them as well. Come on civil servants brown bag some names to media.

kmstelmack (not verified)

at 09:42 on August 27th, 2009

I don't think its the money that matters. its a big number people will pay attention to

stan squires (not verified)

at 23:35 on September 28th, 2009

I am from vancouver and i wanted to say that the canadian gov.is trying to slander Suaad Hagi Mohamud so that she will lose the case.Most canadians knows that the gov. of canada is racist and reactionary.So it shouldn't be a surprise that they are doing this.It is no wonder that there is racism in canada when the gov.is promoting it by slandering this woman.All progressive organizations in canada should support Suaad Mohamud in her fight against this low life gov. Stan Squires

Barbara McPherson

at 08:59 on September 29th, 2009

Thank you for your comments. It seems pretty straight forward to me. Suaad Hagi Mohamud is a Canadian citizen that was treated poorly by the embassy in Kenya. Somebody definitely dropped the ball here. She should be entitled to redress for her shabby treatment.

love it or leave it (not verified)

at 17:20 on October 14th, 2009

love it or leave it stan maybe you'd be happier somewhere else

love it or leave it (not verified)

at 17:18 on October 14th, 2009

Suaad Hagi Mohamud should be happy we bailed her out I'd like to know how much she has contributed to this country through taxes ? If you are unhappy with the Canadian Government move somewhere else, no one is forced to live here.