Hundreds of people fleeing the war in Iran are crossing into Türkiye through the historic Kapıköy Border Gate, a centuries-old passage along the ancient Silk Road that has connected the two nations since the 17th century.
Over the past two weeks, the crossing in eastern Türkiye’s Van Province has become a critical escape route for civilians trying to leave areas affected by the expanding conflict in the Middle East.
Canadian consular officials stationed at the border say Monday marked the busiest day yet, with hundreds of travelers arriving on foot from the Iranian side carrying luggage and hoping to reunite with family members waiting across the border.
Among them was Marjan, a father from Vancouver, who had flown to Türkiye hoping to meet his wife and their two young daughters after they fled escalating airstrikes.
“I’m super worried about their health,” he said while waiting near the crossing. “I just need to meet them here safe. That’s the only thing I need in this moment.”
With communications across Iran severely disrupted by the conflict, Marjan said he had been relying on a third party inside Iran to pass messages between him and his wife as she traveled toward the border.
Philemon Leroux, a Canadian consular officer working at the crossing, said helping Canadians trapped inside Iran has been difficult because the country’s communication networks have largely gone offline.
“Since this conflict began, there’s been no easy way to communicate with Canadians in need of assistance on the other side of the border,” Leroux said.
Many of those arriving in Türkiye say they are fleeing major cities under heavy bombardment by the United States and Israel as the regional war intensifies.
For Marjan, the wait ended in an emotional reunion. As his family crossed into Türkiye, he walked out of the border building holding his three-year-old daughter in his arms.
Asked what the moment meant to him, he replied simply: “Peace and home.”
But not every family had the same outcome.
Mohammad Asadi, who traveled more than 3,000 kilometers from Germany, waited hours hoping his aunt, a resident of British Columbia, would be allowed to cross from Iran.
Border officials on the Iranian side refused to let her leave, mistakenly claiming she needed a visa to enter Türkiye despite holding a Canadian passport, which normally allows visa-free travel.
Canadian officials attempted to resolve the situation by contacting the Embassy of Canada to Türkiye, but their options were limited because Canada closed its embassy in Iran in 2012 and diplomatic relations remain minimal.
Asadi tried to cross into Iran himself to help his aunt but was denied entry.
Left stranded on the Iranian side, she was forced to spend the night at the border in cold conditions while officials tried to find a solution.
For many families fleeing the war, the scenes at Kapıköy capture the harsh reality of displacement: some reunite with loved ones and safety, while others remain separated, hoping the next day will bring a chance to cross.
