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Alan Kurdi, drowned Syrian boy, was denied Canadian asylum Canada denies Alan Kurdi's family applied for asylum
(34 minutes later)
A relative of the three-year-old Syrian boy whose body was found on a beach in Turkey says his family had been denied asylum in Canada in June. Canada has denied it received a bid for asylum from the family of a three-year-old Syrian boy whose body was found washed up on a beach in Turkey.
Canada's immigration minister says he has temporarily suspended his election campaign to investigate the situation. The aunt of Alan Kurdi earlier said his family's request for refugee status had been rejected, but later acknowledged it had never been submitted.
The Canadian government has come under fire for not taking in more Syrians.
Alan drowned alongside his brother, 5, and mother after their boat capsized as they tried to reach Greece from Turkey.Alan drowned alongside his brother, 5, and mother after their boat capsized as they tried to reach Greece from Turkey.
Images of Alan Kurdi's washed up body has sparked global outcry over the human cost of the migrant crisis. Images of the toddler's body sparked global outcry over the human cost of the migrant crisis.
He is just one of thousands of people who have died this year trying to reach Europe by sea, fleeing war and conflict in their home countries.He is just one of thousands of people who have died this year trying to reach Europe by sea, fleeing war and conflict in their home countries.
His family fled the Syrian border town of Kobane into Turkey after it came under repeated attack by Islamic State militants earlier this year, his aunt Teemas told Canada's National Post. 'Didn't deserve to die'
She said she had managed to raise about $20,000 (£13,000) for the Group of Five programme to sponsor her brother, Abdullah, and his family to travel to Canada as refugees. However, their application was turned down by immigration officials in June. His family fled the Syrian border town of Kobane into Turkey after it came under repeated attack by Islamic State militants earlier this year, his aunt Teema Kurdi said on Thursday.
"They didn't deserve to die, they didn't. They were going for a better life. That shouldn't have happened. It shouldn't have happened to them," she said at a press conference, before breaking down in tears.
The Canadian immigration authorities said on Thursday they had no record of receiving an application for refugee status from Alan's father, Abdullah Kurdi.
But Abdullah's brother, Mohammad, did submit an application, though it was rejected for being incomplete, they added.
The statement comes after both a Canadian legislator and Teema Kurdi said on Thursday that Alan's family had submitted an application.
But Teema later seemed to backtrack, telling reporters she had hoped to sponsor Alan's father and his bid for refugee asylum after their brother Mohammad's bid was denied.
Read more about Alan and his family's story:Read more about Alan and his family's story:
Alan and his family's journeyAlan and his family's journey
Outcry over photoOutcry over photo
Has it shifted our view of migrants?Has it shifted our view of migrants?
"I was trying to sponsor them," Teema told the paper. "To be honest I don't want to just blame the Canadian government. I'm blaming the whole world for this," she said.
"I have my friends and my neighbours who helped me with the bank deposits, but we couldn't get them out, and that is why they went in the boat. I was even paying rent for them in Turkey, but it is horrible the way they treat Syrians there."
Brewing immigration rowBrewing immigration row
According to Canadian journalist Terry Glavin, who spoke to the aunt in Vancouver, Alan's father Abdullah had been kidnapped during the Islamic State siege Kobane earlier this year and had all of his teeth pulled out.According to Canadian journalist Terry Glavin, who spoke to the aunt in Vancouver, Alan's father Abdullah had been kidnapped during the Islamic State siege Kobane earlier this year and had all of his teeth pulled out.
He eventually managed to get his family across the border into Turkey, where they then encountered problems trying to get out of the country after being denied exit visas, the aunt said. He eventually managed to get his family across the border into Turkey, where they then encountered problems trying to get out of the country after being denied exit visas.
Since the story has come to light, Canada's Immigration Minister Chris Alexander says he has suspended part of his re-election campaign for the October polls to investigate why the Syrian family's application was rejected. As Alan's story came to light, Canada's Immigration Minister Chris Alexander decided to suspend part of his re-election campaign for the October polls to investigate reports that the family had applied for asylum.
"The tragic photo of young Alan Kurdi and the news of the death of his brother and mother broke hearts around the world," the minister said in a statement on Thursday."The tragic photo of young Alan Kurdi and the news of the death of his brother and mother broke hearts around the world," the minister said in a statement on Thursday.
"I am meeting with officials to ascertain both the facts of the case of the Kurdi family and to receive an update on the migrant crisis." The Conservative government of Stephen Harper also came under attack from opposition Liberal leader Justin Trudeau for not accepting more refugees, suggesting the minister was doing too little too late.
The Conservative government of Stephen Harper has also come under attack from opposition Liberal leader Justin Trudeau for not accepting more refugees, suggesting the minister was doing too little too late.
"You don't get to suddenly discover compassion in the middle of an election campaign. You either have it or you don't," Mr Trudeau said during a campaign stop on Thursday."You don't get to suddenly discover compassion in the middle of an election campaign. You either have it or you don't," Mr Trudeau said during a campaign stop on Thursday.
He urged the Canadian authorities to allow in 25,000 Syrian refugees.He urged the Canadian authorities to allow in 25,000 Syrian refugees.
What is Canada's immigration policy for Syrians?What is Canada's immigration policy for Syrians?