A Syrian refugee who spent several months in limbo in a budget terminal at a Malaysian airport has been granted permanent residency by Canada and is en route to Vancouver, his lawyer said Tuesday.
Hassan al-Kontar's plight became widely known after he shared posts on social media that showed him surviving on donated airline meals, washing and giving himself a haircut in the toilets at Kuala Lumpur International Airport's Terminal 2.
He had been stuck since March -- blocked from entering Malaysia because of visa issues and barred from travelling to other countries, and was detained last month by immigration officials.
"I know I look like someone who ran from the stone, middle ages. I'm sorry for that" the smiling 36-year-old said in a Twitter video Monday, looking tired and stroking his bushy beard.
"For the last eight years, it was hard, long journey. The last ten months, it was very hard and cold."
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