From Damascus to Europe: The story of Ali
Jobar – Damascus, Syria © Dimashqi Lens
Dániel Cséfalvay / December 18, 2019
( 10 min read )
Growing up in Europe gives us privileges that are often too easy to forget. We take for granted a life, that could only be the wildest dream for some. We don’t have to be afraid of persecution, forced to flee our home or getting killed by our government. The story of Ali, that I present here, is about the difficult choices, insecurities, discrimination, and fear, which many refugees experience on their road to Europe.
To start off, can you tell us where are you from, what do you do, how old you are you, and maybe something about your family?
I am Ali, 24, from Syria, Damascus.
It all started in June 2012, when [my family] left Syria for Algeria, in North Africa. We stayed there for two years, we tried to build a new future there and try new things, without being refugees, and without needing any help, to just do our stuff by ourselves. It didn’t go well because we didn’t get anything from the government; no documents that would prove that we are residents there, or any document that would allow us to study there. It was a difficult situation to build a future there. For that reason we were trying to go to other countries, the normal way, by trying to get a visa and leave. That also didn’t go well, because in Algeria you could not get a visa if you were a Syrian at that time.
Was leaving Syria a necessity when you left, or based on the fear that things would get worse?
It was, for me especially, since it was only going to get worse. For my brothers, for example, they had little chance for one year because if you are 18 in Syria you must serve in the army. Either you have a lot of money and pay for your children not to go to the army or you are obliged to go to the army. The government said, “nobody deserves an option, you have to go”. The problem was that it [the conflict in Syria] is not a normal war, because you are not defending a country. You join the military and you are killing your brothers. So neither of these is a good option for us.
Do you have any friends who didn’t have the option, and had to join the army?
I have no friends who had to join the army because they all left like me. But one of my family members had to join the army. He suffered several injuries; luckily, he is still alive, but he cannot do a lot of things for the moment.
How did you get to Europe?
We left to Algeria normally, and we stayed there for about 2 years. We only left when we understood there was no chance for us [there]. We tried [to obtain a] visa for Sweden, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Brazil. We went to each and every embassy to seek a visa and it was not possible because we are Syrians.
How many of you were there?
My parents, so my father and my mother, my two brothers and me. But only my father, me and one of my brothers [travelled to Europe] because it was dangerous, and if you are already in Europe there is an option to get a family visa, so my mother and little brother could come to us. My brother and I didn’t have this option because we were over 18.
We started [out for] Libya; we tried to approach the border and I guess that was the most dangerous part, because in 2014 May the army was on the border of Algeria and Libya and authorised to shoot on sight.
We got to a place called Ghadames [Libya, over the border] from Debdeb [Algeria] where we waited for some hours, but eventually we got to Libya and they brought us to Zuwara [on the Libyan coast].
Were you afraid?
Absolutely, I thought this might be my last trip, there were a lot of people who had been killed – my friend saw a guy getting shot, because he tried to argue that he was robbed – and a lot of people had been kidnapped or their belongings got stolen. The situation in Libya is not normal, you are not a human being but money bag for those people.
How much did you have to pay to get to Libya?
It was 600 euros per person to get through. You pay the first half before and, if you arrive, you pay the rest.
Did you see any soldiers?
There are no [real] soldiers, it is all civil militia in Libya – it is like a failed state, the system has failed, and nothing is organised anymore. Every single person has his own weapon. We knew where we were going but you have no clue if you will arrive because anyone can stop you and if you do not obey, you die. We got to Zuwara, on the coast, [where] we had to wait for a couple of hours. We got lucky because we could leave very soon after, but it is not safe to wait there for a long time. We managed to get on a large, 60-metre boat with 365 people on it. I still cannot forget the number.
I suppose the boat was full.
Yes, you do not have space to sit like normal people. We were put there like animals: you can only stand. And you had to pay like 1200 euros per person. There were people who had to pay 5000 euros for the same trip on the same boat. The price depends on who is organising the trip. Even when you had paid, you were not sure you can get on the boat, because you had no rights there.
Daraya, Syria © Dimashqi Lens
How long did it take?
The trip in total takes 4 days, 2 days on the Libyan boat and 2 days on an Italian ship. After two days, we arrived [on the nautical] border of Tunisia and Italy. The leader of our boat called the Italians to help us, and they got us on the ship and brought us to Palermo.
What happened on the boat?
The worst thing was seeing all the children there, as there was no food or drink; maybe in the first six hours was there something but the last days were hell. Because there were 50 small babies – not even children but little babies about 1 year old. That is something that I cannot and don't want to ever forget. I hated that view: people who were forced to leave, and they had to make their children face these dangers. It was hard to process this.
Did everybody make it to Italy?
Fortunately, yes. In our boat, everybody made it to Italy. But there are a lot of other boats that fail to reach the shore. I heard that more than fifty thousand already died in the sea.
How was first arriving at Italy, what did you feel?
Just relief, like I was extremely relieved to make it to Italy. You do not know anything only that you arrived to some kind of safety. You have no time to relax and also you know one fact, you don’t want to get your passport stamped in Italy.
Why not?
Because then you have to stay there and they will not help you at all, it is very similar to Algeria. So we were already afraid of being caught and told to stay there because nothing would change, we would face a lot of danger still. When we met some officials, they told us they will allow us to leave Palermo and we do not have to get our passport stamped. They also didn’t want us there, luckily for us. But they added, we have to leave in three days because after that they are legally obliged to stamp our passports. But they won't give us any help – and that is the problem, because if you do not speak Italian then you cannot work there.
What was the reaction of local Italians?
Nothing. That is the best thing about Italians: the people there, or at least most of them, do not discriminate or don’t just hate you for no reason. They do not look at you differently, as opposed to Germany where I felt that I am different. Like, if you try to ask for something in English, they will reply only in German.
So, from Palermo, where did you go?
Well first we went to a beautiful hotel in Palermo, it was at the top of a mountain, we were there for one day. Then we flew to Rome. So I could say that the Italian government kind of helped us. They brought us to Roma and then to some refugee residence in Termoli. There I didn’t have to get a stamp. They gave us a sort of permission to leave, and again in three days we would get stamped, but not now. We felt safe.
Just so I understand, did you have your papers during the travel?
Yes, of course, absolutely. I had my ID and my passport. In Termoli we stayed two days, when an Italian guy came and told us: “Tomorrow you are going to get stamped, so if you want to leave, leave now.”
So, you decided to leave?
Yes, most of us did.
Why this decision, did you still feel like it is harder in Italy?
It is not just a feeling. Before you go on a journey like this, you plan everything. You have to decide exactly where are you going and how you are going to do that. We had to decide what is the best destination for a refugee at that moment. It was either Sweden, Germany or the Netherlands. We looked for a place where we can bring family members and easily reunite with them.
So, we left Termoli, and went to the railway station [and travelled to northern Italy by train]. An Egyptian guy brought us with his car to France. And then we took the bus to the Netherlands. We arrived on 14 June 2014. From Algeria to the Netherlands it took about fifteen days, which I think were the hardest.
Jobar – Damascus, Syria © Dimashqi Lens
And what happened when you arrived in the Netherlands?
We found a police officer and he told us that we have to go to [the asylum seekers’ centre], so we applied for refugee status – and residence. You go through a medical check. they gave us a lawyer who helps you, they offer you everything you need, you do not need to do anything.
At this point you gained refugee status?
Yes.
What can you do as a refugee?
Everything – you get all rights. For comparison, everything we could not do in Algeria because we were Syrians, we could do in the Netherlands. For instance, I couldn’t study in Algeria because I was Syrian, and here I am studying at the Delft Technical University, which is one of the best universities in the world. I am studying computer science.
You are 24: is it hard to be an older student, and is it hard to be a refugee?
Not at all, you know when you arrive to the Netherlands, you don’t care: you are so grateful for the opportunity that you just go along, study as hard as you can. You only care about using the chance that you got, because you couldn’t even dream of something like this.
And do you speak Dutch already?
Yes, it is much better than my English. It is actually easier than English. Fortunately, I love languages. After 1 year I became a good speaker, and in the second year I was a very good speaker. I speak English, Dutch, Arabic and a little bit of French and Turkish.
How did the story continue in the Netherlands?
Well, after nine months of [integration] we got assigned a house. The government organized everything for us. The house, residence. But they also wanted us to be responsible. So, when they gave us the house and the money, they wanted us to shop for ourselves to be responsible with the money. They didn't just give you everything. Even at the refugee centres they try to improve us as much as they could, by offering various language courses or skills. At that moment we finally got what we wanted the most: my mother and my brother.
How did they arrive?
We got a visa that allowed our family to reunite. It took a lot of time, but we got it. The problem was that Algeria didn’t enable my mom and my brother to get a visa, so they had to go to Turkey and fly from there. We brought them directly to Ter Apel and they were they for 3 days. After that they could skip some parts of the procedure and it is easier for them to get the residence.
You most probably read or heard the news about the perception of refugees in Central and Eastern Europe. What message would you send to Central and Eastern European people if you could say one thing?
One thing – first of all, Europe is not primarily responsible for helping us. I mean, if you are talking about us Arab people the main responsibility lies with the Arab countries, which are not doing anything. The Gulf countries didn’t do anything, Algeria didn’t do anything, so how am I supposed to tell Europeans to accept us? I would not dare. I mean because of human rights they try to help. [But] if they understand us – we can contribute much to the economy, if that was the approach.
For instance, Hungary is like 93,000 square kilometres and has only 9.7 million people, but in the Netherlands, you have 17 million people living in only 41,000 square kilometres. Look at the difference. Why don’t you bring people and help them if they help you back later? You obviously have to check them, they won't mind. Believe me. Even us. When the government approaches us to check our house, we are happy to do that. You gave us this house, we are already thankful, why would I mind my house getting checked?
Do you think most refugees think like this?
Absolutely, I have a lot of friends who have the same mindset. Because a lot of them didn’t speak English so I helped them, and I could see that they are so grateful that they are complying with anything that the government proposes. If you would ask them to fight for the Netherlands, they probably would because they know that they are lucky to get all these things.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans? I definitely want to finish my studies and start my own company here.
Thank you for telling us your story.
I met Ali in an Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange program called Newcomers and Nationalism: Exploring the Challenges of Belonging In Europe. We were part of different groups and our discussion facilitators thought it would be interesting to make this interview happen. I would like to thank Tirza de Fockert for helping us getting in contact.
