An undated file photo of Canadian journalist Dorothy Parvaz.Joshua Trujillo/The Associated Press
Journalist Dorothy Parvaz, held for three weeks in custody in Syria and Iran, is back in British Columbia, but isn't saying much about her experiences or her future plans.
As the 39-year-old Doha-based correspondent for Al Jazeera entered the international arrivals area of Vancouver International Airport on Thursday afternoon, she said she was exhausted, but "happy to be back."
However, Ms. Parvaz said she would not comment further on her situation.
"I really can't – not at this point," she apologetically told a cluster of reporters, cameramen and photographers awaiting her return.
"I have to authorize everything through my employer," Ms. Parvaz said.
Ms. Parvaz was born in Iran and raised in British Columbia. Her parents, sister and fiancé ushered her out of the airport terminal, and to their vehicle as Ms. Parvaz continued to decline comment along the way.
Fred Parvaz said his daughter appeared to be well. "She's beautiful, as you can see," he said.
He thanked the media for its support, and said the family was hoping for a "quiet time" in coming days.
Officials with Al Jazeera did not return calls or e-mails from The Globe and Mail seeking comment.
Ms. Parvaz has said she arrived in Damascus on April 29 to cover pro-democracy protests in Syria. On arrival at the airport, she said she was taken into custody on allegations of being a Zionist spy. Her connections to Al Jazeera also caused problems because of the network's coverage of Arab Spring protests.
She was blindfolded, cuffed and forced to listen to prisoners being beaten by Syrian interrogators. She was intensely interrogated. On May 1, she was dispatched to Iran where she said she was held in custody, but received better treatment.
Ian Bailey