Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
NewsCut
Bob Collins

Man who spent the year living in an airport finds a home in Canada

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Stop me if you've heard this before. A man from another country flies to an airport, but then is stranded there because the country won't let him in and he can't get back. So he lives in the airport -- for seven months -- until he finally catches a break.

And stop me if you've heard this before: When it comes to decency and open arms, nobody beats Canada these days.

Aside from some plot twists, Hassan al-Kontar's story is reminiscent of Tom Hanks' role in "The Terminal." In this case al-Kontar was in Malaysia, living in Kuala Lampur's Terminal 2.

He fled Syria in 2006 to avoid being drafted into the military.

“I’m not a killing machine and I don’t want any part in destroying Syria,” he told the BBC earlier this year.

He fled to the UAE, but when he lost his work permit because his passport expired, he was deported to Malaysia, which refused him entry. He wanted to go to Ecuador. Ecuador wouldn't let him in. Neither would Cambodia. He was stuck at the airport.

Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months.

Airport employees helped him out, bringing him food and washing his clothes. In July a janitor propped a door open so he could experience something he hadn't in months: fresh air.

He asked NASA for a flight to Mars because there's nothing for him on this planet, he said. He posted video updates on Twitter until he was arrested last month for entering an area without a boarding pass, leading to fears he was to be deported to Syria.

This week, however, he found out he's being rescued by a nation that welcomes huddled masses yearning to breathe free: Canada.

At the urging of Laurie Cooper, a media relations consultant in Whistler, B.C., people crowdsourced the money to sponsor al-Kontar, a law school graduate. The process usually takes about 26 months, the Guardian reported. Canada officials did it in eight.

“I spent the day washing the sheets and making up the bed in my guest room for him," Cooper told The Guardian on Sunday.

“It all seemed impossible: I’m a mom who lives in a little log cabin and he was living in an airport,” said Cooper.

In other words: she gave a damn.

Uniquely Canada.