Young Senegalese lesbian refugee in Canada fears death if returned to Senegal
A 26-year-old Senegalese woman, identified as "Fatou," is facing significant challenges as an asylum seeker in Canada, according to a report by the Quebec daily La Presse. She arrived in Canada in November 2023 on a student visa, seeking to escape pressures related to her sexual orientation. Fatou told La Presse that her androgynous appearance and lifestyle led to violent tensions within her family circle, with an uncle reportedly threatening to burn or bury her alive if suspicions about her sexuality were true. After revealing her homosexuality from Canada, she claims to have received explicit threats from former acquaintances, including warnings of "maraboutage" witchcraft. Her administrative situation in Canada has become complicated due to stricter local legislation. Under Canadian law C-12, asylum applications filed more than one year after initial entry are deemed inadmissible. Fatou's application was filed two years after her arrival, leading to its rejection. She expresses profound fear about returning to Senegal, stating, "If by misfortune I have to return to Senegal, I know it will end badly for me, even in death. I will be left to myself." To avoid deportation, she is preparing a request for a pre-removal risk assessment, which is her final legal recourse. She concludes her testimony by saying, "I just want to live my life as I feel it, without having problems, neither with my family nor with society."
