Syrian woman detained in Costa Rica since November tells her story, requests asylum

(MSP Photo)

(MSP Photo)

December 16^th, 2015 (ICR News) A Syrian woman who has been detained in Costa Rica since November 19^th after entering the country on a stolen and doctored Greek passport is requesting asylum in Costa Rica.

A lawyer representing the woman, who says her real name is Alaa Bustati, told La Nacion this week that his client is unable to return to her home country because her home was destroyed in a bombing and that her life would be in danger in the war-torn country.

According to the woman’s lawyer, Miguel Alejandro Gutierrez, the woman was in a refugee camp when she was approached by members of a human trafficking network.  Gutierrez said that the woman was “deceived” by the trafficking network, and believed that her ultimate destination was to be Germany.

At the time of her arrest in a small San Jose hotel, the woman was reportedly in possession of a ticket to Spain.  She had arrived in Costa Rica on a flight from Argentina, officials said.

Gutierrez said that it was the trafficking network that provided the woman with the stolen and altered Greek passport as well as airlines tickets.  The woman admits to paying the traffickers, Gutierrez said.

The attorney said that his client has since worked with authorities to provide information about the trafficking organization, and said the woman has no links to terrorism.

Gutierrez said that the woman is a married mother of two children and a former schoolteacher.

The woman, who is currently being held in the Buen Pastor women’s prison, is being assisted by an Arabic-speaking member of Costa Rica’s Muslim community, as she does not speak Spanish and only a small amount of English, Gutierrez said.

The attorney said that he has appealed to the Constitutional Court, asking for the woman to be set free while her asylum request is in process.