Interview Subject
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Contributing Organization
TSOS
Home Country
Afghanistan
Description
As an anti-corruption journalist in Afghanistan, Aarash’s family’s life was threatened by warlords. His car was shot at, their guesthouse was bombed, and later when they were threatened at gunpoint, they tried to make a new life in India. But in India, they discovered difficulties in obtaining permanent visas so they had return to Kabul where they hid at a friend’s house for 20 days while obtaining documentation to flee to Turkey. Once in Turkey, they learned that Afghan registries had been closed since 2010. They determined that they needed to either apply for asylum in Turkey or leave for Greece when they were immediately jailed at IDEN for 15 days. Upon release, they were told they needed to pay bus passage to go back to Istanbul and because he had money, he was expected to pay for other passengers as well. Someone put him in touch with a smuggler who was able to get the family to Greece where they stayed in a Refugee Camp.
Life in the refugee camp is discouraging for them. There is no school for the kids. “This is not the life I came for. I thought I will start a new life, but this is also not a new life,” Aarash says. “ I’d like to start work and do something soon. And I don’t like to sit at home only, under this tent.” He explains that he and his wife were appointed leadership responsibilities in the camp, and he hopes to film some stories within the camp.
Document Type
Interview
Interview Date
2016
Interview Location
Germany
Included in
Digital Humanities Commons, Diplomatic History Commons, Ethnic Studies Commons, Human Geography Commons, Immigration Law Commons, International Relations Commons, Islamic Studies Commons, Islamic World and Near East History Commons, Medicine and Health Sciences Commons, Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons, Oral History Commons, Photography Commons
