Amir Kazemian spent almost three years in the sanctuary of a church in East Vancouver after the immigration board rejected his refugee claim. Last weekend a Vancouver police officer arrested Amir inside the church after Amir called the police about another matter. This was only the second time Canadian officials violated church sanctuary. Amir was taken into custody and his lawyer and supporters were afraid he would be deported back to Iran where he risked imprisonment and torture for his religion and previous political activity, but the immigration board released Amir and granted him permanent resident status on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Read more in a CBC article, "Iranian refugee joyous after release from Canadian custody, supporters cheer." Read more about the sanctuary movement in Canada.