A Filipino asylum seeker was told by a Hong Kong High Court judge that she could find a better future for her children in either her homeland or that of her ex-husband – Pakistan – and did not need to stay in Hong Kong with them.
Court of First Instance Judge Josiah Lam gave that advice on June 12 to Virginia Caramat, a torture claimant who faces deportation with her three children, after the Immigration Department’s Torture Claim Appeals Board rejected her application for non-refoulement, sunwebhk.com reported.
Caramat told the judge that she wanted her children, a 16-year-old daughter and two sons aged 13 and 18, to grow up in Hong Kong because it is safer there than in the Philippines or in her divorced husband’s country, Pakistan.
She claimed that her elder brothers were threatening to harm her children if they returned to the Philippines because they are Muslims, adding that she is afraid that Christian Filipinos would also harm them because of their religion.
She also claimed she did not want to return to Pakistan because women were not respected in that country and she could not work there.
Caramat said she married a Pakistani named Iqbal and converted to Islam in 1997. All three children were born in Hong Kong.
The couple divorced in 2010 and Caramat came to Hong Kong alone in 2014. Her former husband turned the children over to Caramat that year and she did not see him until August last year when their younger son had a heart attack and was in a coma. He returned to Pakistan in February.
Caramat said she relied on International Social Service allowances for her and the children’s food.
She told the judge that she would do anything to protect her children from harm from Christian communities, or her elder brothers.
“No, you have also to respect other countries, as they [the children] may also have a better future in other countries. While it is hard to find a better place for your children, it is right that you instill in their minds the right concepts,” the judge said.
He said the Philippines or Pakistan could still offer the children a better future.
Agree… it’s like Christians are killer to say that way. Isn’t she a christian or catolic before converted to Islam?? Excuses excuses might as well said she just want to stay here in Hongkong rather than spouting pathetic excuse.
Unreasonable reasons!
shes dumb! she just wants to stay here in hongkong thats why she will do and say anything so she could stay here with her kids.
Damn what a bad example to to her kids
Dami mong dahilan wag mong sabihin masamang tao ang mga Christians dahila kahit anong religion kung talagang masama ugali masama talaga at kung mabait naman e mabait talaga.Bakit ikaw ba sa religion nyo mabait o mabuti kayong lahat?
Racist rather
Dave Muir –I’m FILIPINA TOO, pissed off of the reasoning she gave, never heard any CHRISTIAN nor any religion persicuting MUSLIM IN PHILIPPINES, that’s not a racis, my comment was based on this ARTICLE
Ang lakas ng amats ng babaeng to oh, bkit wala ba muslim sa Pinas? Baliw!
Dave Muir : There’s no need to write an unpleasant comment like that. And try to spell ‘you’re’ correctly next time.
Come on dear…dnt used religion to your desire to stay in hkong…why those conrty pakistan or phiippines are against muslis???maybe or not…myron nman kinabukasan yon mga anak sa pinas ah…wel depends the judge and good luck…god bless…
Are you sure that we filipino christian people will harm your kids? You just making a sh*t alebies , you just want stay HK aminin mo nalang embis na maawa pa kami sayo naiinis tuloy kami
safer now?than before?in your.shitmind maybe!bcoz you are blind follower of psycho,she.is right not to.back to phils especialy now,our country iis in.chaos now in.the hand of devils,maybe filipinos can survive from tokhang but not in hunger/poverty. duterte is squezing poor filipinos.to grave,,this woman with 3 kids no future awaits.for them in phils,no job to support jer children no good opportunities awaits.for them there ,duterte hates poor,amd he loves the elites corrupts and bigtime smugglers
Sobrang ambisyosa yun ibang pinay maging resedente ng hk…un nga mga kalahi nila mismo pinapauwi pa sa china kahit may mga asawa or anak pa sila….isip isip din minsan
Pakasalanan mo pa ang kapwa mo pinoy lola madami rin muslim na bata sa pinas remember???huwag ipilit maging resedente sa hindi mo bayan…darating din ang araw uuwi pa rin kayo sa pinas!!!
Really???just because you wanted to stay in hk and rely on others to feed you and your children????????????
Nako asa ka sa hk kahit dito mo sinilang anak
Dapat yong religion mo Lang sinabi mo Kasi kanya Kay e but no all Christian.
Good for the JUDGE, as for that MUSLIM FILIPINA THE BEST FOR HER AND HER CHILDREN ARE THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES, THE MIDDLE EAST, that she had no FEAR OF PERSECUTION, HONGKONG IS NOT A GOOD PLACE EITHER
gsto Lang yan dto tumira sa Hongkong..dinadahilan lang ang religion…
What ridiculous reason?,.. Philippines is many cities to live it’s safe now than before how could you say christian religion may harm your children?as far as i know there so many foreign muslim in the Philippines.
Wow, it is because you just want to stay in H.K you made an excuse that Christian Filipinos are cruel? Nonsense!Sana maawa pa kmi sa iyo…