Context
Nathalie is a woman from Quebec who has been held
in Saudi Arabia since March 2005, when she was barely 20 years old. This prison was first set up by her husband, Saeed Al Sharahni. She has experienced many situations of violence, both physical
and psychological, keeping her in fear.
For several years, she has also been subjected to this violence by the Saudi government. After five years of negotiations, in 2020 Nathalie succeeded in legalizing her "Iqama" visa in Saudi
Arabia. This allows her, among other things, to leave the country. But the Saudi government maintains a travel ban on the four children. They cannot leave the country, even with the consent
of their father.
The Canadian government seems powerless to help Nathalie free her children from this ban on coming to their mother's country of origin, which is also theirs, Canada. The Saudi and Canadian
governments are blaming each other for this situation.
In the meantime, five Canadians are hostages in a diplomatic tug of war that will only be resolved by political intervention.
Nathalie appeals for help to return to her country, Canada, with her children Samir, Abdullah, Sarah and Fowaz.
Nathalie demands the right and freedom to travel for her children.
Timeline
2001
September: Nathalie meets Saeed Al Bishi, a Saudi who she believes is a student at Concordia University in Montreal.
2002
July: Nathalie gives birth to Samir in Quebec.
September: Saeed Al Bishi is deported in Saudi Arabia after authorities discover that he’s in Quebec illegally.
2003-2004
For two years, Saeed talks to her about all the possibilities of living as a family with Samir in Saudi Arabia. Nathalie visits him twice and comes back both times. Trust is established.
2005
March: Nathalie leaves to settle in Saudi Arabia with her son.
December: Visit from Johanne Durocher, Nathalie’s mother, in Saudi Arabia. The situation is bad. Johanne Durocher alerts the Canadian Embassy Services. Nathalie asks the Canadian Embassy for their repatriation. There is no follow up.
2006
January: Johanne Durocher alerts Ottawa.
June: Nathalie gives birth to Abdullah in Saudi Arabie.
October 11th: Nathalie comes to Montreal alone at her mother’s expenses.
November 22nd: Nathalie reunites with her children Samir, age 4, and Abdullah, 5 months old, in Saudi Arabia.
2008
February 25th: Saeed asks for a $20,000 ransom to free Nathalie and their two children. He then changed his mind and asked for $100,000, and then said that he was joking all along and doesn’t want amy money.
March 4th & 10th: Saeed is interviewed by the Al Riyadh newspaper and asks the Saudi population for financial assistance.
March 11th & 13th: Saeed is once again interviewed, this time by the Al Watam newspaper.
April 2nd to 5th: Johanne Durocher, Nathalie Morin’s mother, is asking the government for help to extradite her daughter and grandchildren.
April 4th: Gilles Duceppe, Parti Quebecois leader, talks about sanctions to pressure Saudi Arabia.
June 4th: Protest in front of the Parliament in Ottawa and speech given by Ms. Lalonde, deputy of the Bloc Québécois, in front of cameras.
July 9th: Press conference in Montreal. Nathalie is pregnant with her third child, against her will.
November 10th : Press conference in Montreal. Nathalie has never been married with Saeed.
Novembre 18th : Nathalie gives birth to a little girl called Sarah.
2009
February: After some weeks without news, the contact between Nathalie and her mother is back. Nathalie sent some pictures.
April 2009: Press conference with Francine Lalonde (Bloc Québécois), Bernard Patry (Liberal), Thomas Mulcair (NDP) and Johanne Durocher.
May 2009: Press conference for Mother’s day with Christelle Bogosta (NDP), Marie-Ève Adam (Bloc Québécois), Dominique Morin et Johanne Durocher.
July 2009: Her mother and brother visit Nathalie and film her daily life. One part of the videos is used in a report of inquiry, distributed by Radio-Canada in October 2009.
December 2009: Amnesty International organizes a writing marathon. More than 500 cards are sent to Nathalie and her children.
2010
March, 6th: A solidarity concert Turn key Liberty, is organized by the support committee for Nathalie Morin for Women’s Day.
May, 13: The Committee is heard in front of the Subcommittee of International Human Rights (SDIR) in Ottawa. The Committee organized a protest in front ofthe Parliament, suppoted by feminist organizations.
June, 26th: Protest organized in front of the Saudi Arabia embassy, with the support of feminist & muslims organizations.
Same protest organized in Washington, USA.