Unhappy in Europe, some Iraqis are heading back home | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Saturday 2 January 2016

Unhappy in Europe, some Iraqis are heading back home

At 25, Faisal Uday Faisal had high expectations when he packed his bags for Europe in September.
After quitting his job making tea and cleaning for the Ministry of Education in Baghdad, he set off to Turkey to join more than a million refugees and migrants who have made their way to the continent in the past year.

“My dream since I was a child was to go to Europe,” he said. “I was imagining a beautiful life, a secure life, with an apartment and a salary.”
But despite a grueling month-long journey to Sweden, he went back home, one of a surging number of returnees, Iraqi and international authorities say. The International Organization for Migration says it helped 779 Iraqis come back from Europe voluntarily in November, more than double the previous month, and those figures don’t include people like Faisal, who returned on his own.

Some have chosen to leave because they were confused about the asylum process, disillusioned with the lack of opportunities or homesick, while others were forced to go when their asylum claims were rejected.
“It was a boring life there, their food even a cat wouldn’t eat it,” Faisal said of his two months in an asylum center near the Swedish city of Malmo. “I went to Europe and discovered Europe is just an idea. Really, it’s just like Bab al-Sharji,” he said, referring to a Baghdad market neighborhood.
While some who come back of their own volition may not have been fleeing danger in the first place, aid agencies warn that legitimate asylum seekers are also being discouraged as Europe becomes less welcoming to newcomers and tries to tighten its borders. Finland and Belgium are among the countries that have warned arrivals from Baghdad that they won’t automatically receive asylum.
Faisal concedes that he left for economic reasons, the kind of asylum applicant European authorities are trying to sift out from those fleeing violence. He said he decided to “arrange a story” about being threatened by Iraqi militias. “If I was in danger, I wouldn’t have come back,” he said.
Faisal begged his father, who had already spent $8,000 on sending his sons to Europe, to send money so he could come home. “He missed the services here. At home everything is done for him,” said Faisal’s father, Uday Faisal Mohee.
“The problem is, the words Europe or America has such magic for the young people. This one is still affected even though he knows the reality,” he said, pointing to his younger son, who returned to Iraq after being detained in Turkey en route but still wishes to try again.
“There are thousands of Iraqis who have come back, and thousands more that want to,” said Sattar Nowruz, a spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement. Iraqi embassies in Europe are scrambling to provide emergency travel documents for those travelling back.

Aid agencies say asylum seekers are struggling to have their cases heard.
“Some authorities are encouraging applicants to return,” said Shannon Pfohman, head of policy for Caritas Europa, “implying that they won’t get asylum, won’t get a job and generally painting a bleak picture.”
A total of 35,000 refugees and migrants left Europe “voluntarily” from the beginning of the year to November, Pfohman said. “But really much of it is more forced. It’s not clear what extent it’s voluntary,” she said, adding that a further 17,000 were deported.

Those fleeing certain countries are being increasingly lumped together, she said, whereas each claim should be individually assessed. But asylum systems are overwhelmed.
The uncertainty and often chaotic claims process has led even some of those fleeing the worst of the Islamic State’s atrocities to give up and return to a life of displacement.

After spending $11,000 traveling to Germany, and four months waiting for his asylum claim to be processed there, Ibrahim Abdullah, a 42-year-old member of the minority Yazidi sect, returned to his camp in northern Iraq in October.



Source: The Washington Post

61 comments:

Davido's driver said...

What a life...!

STERN said...

When u guys hear obodo yibo you think it's all bed of roses bah? LOL

Unknown said...

And are we supposed to feel sorry for you? Who cares? Why did u leave ur country short sighted and ill informed? Nonsense

Blog It With Olivia said...

Hmmmmmm. But was he expecting miracle to happen immediately? Its not possible na













#It WiLL oNLy gEt beTTer
#iT mUst End iN prAise

SHORTEST DUDE said...

End time stories tho!

Repent my friends

Unknown said...

Eeyah....


He ald come to Nigeria.. We are food pple


Meenah_wakil on instagram

Anonymous said...

Eeyah....


He ald come to Nigeria.. We are food pple


Meenah_wakil on instagram

Uzosafetyblog said...

Home dey too sweet. #IRepLIB

Babylawyer. said...

If ur.not welcomed in a country then I suggest u stay in yours.

@Lindaikeji No. I FAN

NaijaDeltaBabe said...

East or West, home is best


... Merited happiness

Unknown said...

they can get a better job in their country gud luck to them

Unknown said...

Lol! Love the part that says Europe was just an Idea. Nigerians Shey you dey follow

Unknown said...

If you are not happy with yourself u can never be happy no matter where you are even if its america



PEPSI ADDICT

Unknown said...

On a serious note what were they expecting? Quick assylum?, come on in the light of isis and other terrorist sleeper cell using this crisis to enter europe I won't blame their delay at all

Unknown said...

Ok u see am...u went and u going back...after that money and time...but as u are going back I hope u dnt get killed back home...












~make I go drink one bottle of beer~

Unknown said...

Naija still rock

Unknown said...

Ehyaa may God help dem; 😠

_Linda's boyfriend wannabe

Roseberry said...

There is nothing really special about those places actually. Its just d name.

Unknown said...

They even hv a choice. Come to our IDP camp here in Nig.
-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds

Chigozie Okwuego said...

How To Start a Blog and Make Money Online Like Linda Ikeji

Unknown said...

Eiya...no place like home

Unknown said...

Chai!!!

Unknown said...

Chai!!! It is well

Olunne the village girl said...

Na wa oh... there is no place like home
#gratitude#

Unknown said...

who send am b4?

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

CONGRATS TO US.

I B M bolubantin said...

North or south, east or west, home is best

Unknown said...

There is nothing like home.

Unknown said...

Ile labo simi oko

Unknown said...

Sorry take heart and go bck peacefully datz all I can say #sneh

Lilian chinomso said...

Oh sorry

Unknown said...

Eyahhh..

Unknown said...

my brother no place like home oooo...no matter where you are,who you are or what you do..home shall always be home.

omobakujore said...

Who send u come before


Omobakujore of IJEBULAND

Unknown said...

Wish him what he wish himself. Hope he is not going home to join ISIS.

Rapuluchukwuifenineadigommakings@yahoo.com
Delsu calling

Unknown said...

Ok ooo#slimmy

Unknown said...

Wish him the best and hope he won't join ISIS.

Rapuluchukwuifenineadigommakings@yahoo.com
Delsu calling

Anonymous said...

thank God he has witness it now for himself
and its good for to send a message for all

Anonymous said...

thank God he has witness it now for himself
and its good for him to send a message for all

Anonymous said...

EUROPE or America isn't for everyone. And people need to stop dreaming such as a land of milk&honey doesn't exist on mother earth. The only way to make it is education and until you get into their education system you have to bite your teeth together, squeeze your butt and move step by step. Life isn't easy at all in EU or America. You first have to crawl like a baby, walk with help to end walking alone, but if you are dreaming of flying am SORRY things will be sour.

How many of us wish to visit our relatives in Africa but we can't afford a ticket,meanwhile we are full time workers with mid-range salaries.

Unknown said...

If you are not happy with yourself u can never be happy no matter where you are even if its america thats the fact of life.

Unknown said...

Blessings come from above not abroad. Safe trip back.





Wild flowers!

Unknown said...

good for them





new comer

Unknown said...

Their business. #IamMe

Unknown said...

Nobody is in control of the world the world is chaotic....so pathetic

Peror World said...

The guy has just made a very big mistake.If u take me outa 9ja,I will neva return bcos its beta being a slave in anoda country than ur own

Kalily said...

My Nigerian people, be PROUD of who you are and what you have. Like Timothy said, there is no place like home . The mundane things of life in Naija I now value them. Even our gragra behavior, Oyibo people are sooooooooooooooo myopic, they know nothing of the world outside their environment. You know about them and even want to be like them,but they don't know and will never even try to know you. In this century they still believe u live in trees..
. Naija don't throw your jewels away, nobody will respect u for it.

Unknown said...

Sorry man, life is somehow not work to our expectations.

Unknown said...

Finally, to sum it all up; "There's absolutely no place like home".

Unknown said...

Why will someone in his right senses spend so much to travel not sure of what's in stock for him over there. Why don't you use that money to start up something in your country. This is just the beginning for them.

Unknown said...

Eyah

Unknown said...

please go home and help build your country to make it a better place.angelmakiz@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

home is sweet

Anonymous said...

Many people here saying stay in naija and build your counntry...am just SMH. if they are given the opportunity to go to Europe or America they will grab it with both hands. True some nigerians are doing menial jobs abroad while some are also successful. At the end of the day, It's where your luck lies and where God wants you to be. Yes people are also succesful in naija and people are also struggling to survive as well. All in all do what works best for you

OSINANL said...

Lol

OSINANL said...

Lol

Eddy Ogbunambala said...

No place like home

BUSYMOM said...

This is the disillusion many people still have of travelling abroad.to europe,america,UK..thinking of these places as heaven..its not..soo much hardship for immigrants.north,south,east or west,no matter what home is still the best.

Unknown said...

make them leg come Africa now we go accept them

Unknown said...

that why i hate white na them cus am o and them no won make them enter their country why make them die abi stupid

Anonymous said...

Meanwhile, the syndicates that organized these trips to Europe are smiling to d bank. The owners and sailors of boats made lots of money transporting them to Europe.

Unknown said...

THAT'S SO SAD. THE WORLD GOVT HAS TO DO STH DRASTIC ABOUT THE FATE OF THOSE PPLE

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