Samar Alkhdour سَمَرْ الخْضُورْ (Elkahlout) is a Palestinian activist residing currently in Montréal, Canada. Following the death of her thirteen year old daughter Jana Elkahlout in Gaza, Palestine, Alkhdour started a daily sit-in at former Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Member of Parliament (Canada) Marc Miller's office on Saint Jacques Street. Since the dismantlement of the McGill University pro-Palestinian student encampment the daily pro-Palestine protests taking place at Roddick Gates have been led by Samar Alkhdour. In addition to these daily sit-ins, she has also lead regular protests outside of Indigo Books and Music[1] at Place Montreal Trust corner of Saint Catherine Street & McGill College Avenue, Liberal Party of Canada candidate Laura Palestini's office.[2]
Samar Alkhdour was born in Yemen to a Syrian mother from Hama & a Palestinian father from Hebron. Her father's parents were forced to flee during the Nakba in 1948 to Jordan. Her father was 2 months old at the time. Alkhdour is a third generation Palestinian refugee.
In 2008, Samar Alkhdour completed a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature as well as a Certificate in Education at the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) in Palestine. In 2009, she received a Certificate in Professional Interpretation (Arabic and English) at the IUG. In 2018, she received a Certificate in Women's Studies, Gender & Sexuality at Ohio University, US. In 2019, she completed a Masters in International Development Studies with a focus on Women, Gender & Sexuality with a Fulbright scholarship at Ohio University, US.[3]
Alkhdour has worked as an English Teacher as a second language at the Islamic University of Gaza, The British Academy of Languages (BAL) in Gaza as well as the University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS) in Gaza. She has also worked as a Translator & Interpreter (Arabic and English) at the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. She has also worked as an Intercultural Case Worker for Family and Youth Protection at The Social Center for Assisting Immigrants (CSAI) in Montreal, Canada.
Activism
Samar Alkhdour, who arrived in Quebec as an asylum seeker in 2019, has been a notorious voice in the streets of Montreal amongst the Pro-Palestine movement.
“I chose Canada to apply for refugee at the time because I believed it was a country that valued human rights. Today, I am disappointed, but I hope that things will change.” - Samar Alkhdour.[4]
"This disregard to our suffering as Palestinians, while I saw how they dealt with the Ukrainians, with no conditions at all imposed on them. A lot of benefits were offered to them, financially and otherwise – that's infuriating for me. And it's still happening, like all the support and help given to the Ukrainians up until this moment, which is amazing, but why? Why have these double standards and racism and discrimination against us as Palestinians? I mean, I know the answer, but… to experience this firsthand is - it’s driving me crazy. So that immigration… I would say the immigration system works for certain people, not for everyone." said Samar Alkhdour.[5]
Samar Alkhdour has spoken at many Pro-Palestine protests and events for such organizations as the Palestinian Youth Movement (Montreal), Papineau Pour La Palestine[6] at former Prime Minister of Canada and Member of Parliament for the Papineau electoral district Justin Trudeau's office. Montreal Families for Palestine, Lasalle-Émard and Verdun (LEV) for Palestine.
Alkhdour was featured on the podcast Point of Entry[7] on August 22, 2024. In this episode, The Refugee Centre Advocacy Coordinator, Alina Murad sits down with Community Organizer, Samar Alkhdour to discuss her ongoing sit-in outside of former Immigration Minister, Marc Miller's office.The two discuss Samar's experience leaving Gaza, the bureaucracy of family reunification and the policy changes she is advocating for.
Alkhdour was featured on the podcast The World Unspun[8] on 17 December, 2024. This episode was hosted by Paula Lacey Editorial Assistant at New Internationalist.
