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Germany has been good to us Syrians. I hope Cologne doesn’t change that Germany has been good to us Syrians. I hope Cologne doesn’t change that
(7 months later)
I am a male Syrian refugee and I live close to Cologne. It feels like it is my moral obligation to say something about the attacks that took place there on New Year’s Eve. On the one hand I am angry and speechless, like many people in the city, across Germany and around the world. But I also worry what these disgusting crimes will mean for other refugees, including my own family.I am a male Syrian refugee and I live close to Cologne. It feels like it is my moral obligation to say something about the attacks that took place there on New Year’s Eve. On the one hand I am angry and speechless, like many people in the city, across Germany and around the world. But I also worry what these disgusting crimes will mean for other refugees, including my own family.
Most importantly, I want to express my solidarity with the women who were attacked by dozens of men during what was supposed to be a happy celebration.Most importantly, I want to express my solidarity with the women who were attacked by dozens of men during what was supposed to be a happy celebration.
Related: Let’s not shy away from asking hard questions about the Cologne attacks | Gaby Hinsliff
It makes me feel sad and ashamed to hear that some of the perpetrators of these attacks were asylum seekers. It baffles me that those who have themselves fled unbearable violence and war can act in such a manner. My German friends tell me that there should not be such thing as a “collective guilt” of refugees: criminals are criminals, no matter where they come from. Statistics show that crime rates among refugees are no higher than among Germans. But I keep thinking of all the volunteers who have supported me since I fled to Germany, and of the support I received from the German state. In Arabic we say that “one should not bite the hand that feeds him”. Yet this is what the offenders from Cologne have done.It makes me feel sad and ashamed to hear that some of the perpetrators of these attacks were asylum seekers. It baffles me that those who have themselves fled unbearable violence and war can act in such a manner. My German friends tell me that there should not be such thing as a “collective guilt” of refugees: criminals are criminals, no matter where they come from. Statistics show that crime rates among refugees are no higher than among Germans. But I keep thinking of all the volunteers who have supported me since I fled to Germany, and of the support I received from the German state. In Arabic we say that “one should not bite the hand that feeds him”. Yet this is what the offenders from Cologne have done.
The attacks have also churned up other, similar memories. About a year ago I saw a man violently harass a woman at the train station in Düsseldorf. It was the first time in my life I had witnessed something like that. The offender was drunk and I tried to intervene, but he was very violent. My brother held me back and told me I should be wary as the police might end up arresting me - after all, I am a refugee. Back than we were still new to this country and were afraid we could be sent back to Syria. We felt weak and helpless.The attacks have also churned up other, similar memories. About a year ago I saw a man violently harass a woman at the train station in Düsseldorf. It was the first time in my life I had witnessed something like that. The offender was drunk and I tried to intervene, but he was very violent. My brother held me back and told me I should be wary as the police might end up arresting me - after all, I am a refugee. Back than we were still new to this country and were afraid we could be sent back to Syria. We felt weak and helpless.
I arrived in Germany on New Year’s Eve 2014. I had fled my home town, Deir ez-Zor, in Syria, after terrorist groups had taken over and I feared for the lives of my wife, our three- and four-year-old daughters and our unborn son. Bombs had been dropping where we lived on a daily basis, and I lost many of my friends and family members. There was no medical care, and hardly any running water or electricity.I arrived in Germany on New Year’s Eve 2014. I had fled my home town, Deir ez-Zor, in Syria, after terrorist groups had taken over and I feared for the lives of my wife, our three- and four-year-old daughters and our unborn son. Bombs had been dropping where we lived on a daily basis, and I lost many of my friends and family members. There was no medical care, and hardly any running water or electricity.
I walked for days, endured a rocky boat crossing to Greece and passed through the dangerous transit zone in the Balkans. I am one of more than 4 million Syrians to have fled my home country since the conflict started, in 2011.I walked for days, endured a rocky boat crossing to Greece and passed through the dangerous transit zone in the Balkans. I am one of more than 4 million Syrians to have fled my home country since the conflict started, in 2011.
I did not know much about my new home when smugglers brought me over the border to Germany from Austria. But since I arrived, I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality I have encountered. I am here to become part of this society, which upholds freedom, peace and equality. I am thankful to the Germans who are sharing their country with me. My friends here have become my new family, and it breaks my heart to think that any of them could have been among the ones assaulted in Cologne.I did not know much about my new home when smugglers brought me over the border to Germany from Austria. But since I arrived, I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality I have encountered. I am here to become part of this society, which upholds freedom, peace and equality. I am thankful to the Germans who are sharing their country with me. My friends here have become my new family, and it breaks my heart to think that any of them could have been among the ones assaulted in Cologne.
Related: After the Cologne attacks, refugees must be housed within the wider community | Ghiath Al Jebawi
There are a lot of discussions going on about how to bring criminal asylum seekers to justice. I think they should be, just like everyone else. Someone who is a criminal should be treated like one, no matter where he comes from.There are a lot of discussions going on about how to bring criminal asylum seekers to justice. I think they should be, just like everyone else. Someone who is a criminal should be treated like one, no matter where he comes from.
Criminal refugees damage the hopes of all other refugees with their behaviour. Like all people, “refugees” are a heterogeneous group. Among the refugees you will find criminals, as you will in any other group. A bad person does not necessarily change when he becomes a refugee.Criminal refugees damage the hopes of all other refugees with their behaviour. Like all people, “refugees” are a heterogeneous group. Among the refugees you will find criminals, as you will in any other group. A bad person does not necessarily change when he becomes a refugee.
At the same time, I also think that it is important to look ahead. In Syria, I worked as an English teacher. Now I am a volunteer with Care International in Germany. We support teachers dealing with the many new students who have arrived in this country as refugees. We want to convey core values and counter negative stereotypes, gender roles and discrimination.At the same time, I also think that it is important to look ahead. In Syria, I worked as an English teacher. Now I am a volunteer with Care International in Germany. We support teachers dealing with the many new students who have arrived in this country as refugees. We want to convey core values and counter negative stereotypes, gender roles and discrimination.
It is important that German schools are not left alone with the big challenge of integrating hundreds of thousands of children and young adults who have fled or migrated to this country.It is important that German schools are not left alone with the big challenge of integrating hundreds of thousands of children and young adults who have fled or migrated to this country.
I want to contribute to overcoming the current challenges and ensure that the welcoming culture of Germany, which was a balm for my soul when I arrived after years of living in civil war, will not be lost because of what happened in Cologne. Otherwise, it will feel like the offenders of New Year’s Eve have won.I want to contribute to overcoming the current challenges and ensure that the welcoming culture of Germany, which was a balm for my soul when I arrived after years of living in civil war, will not be lost because of what happened in Cologne. Otherwise, it will feel like the offenders of New Year’s Eve have won.