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| Syria's refugees: Abu Anass | Syria's refugees: Abu Anass |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| From Deraa, southern Syria />Now London, UK />In exile Since February 2008 | |
| I have four children: the eldest one, Amjad, is 19 and the youngest one is Aulla, aged five. | I have four children: the eldest one, Amjad, is 19 and the youngest one is Aulla, aged five. |
| I used to work as a businessman in the mobile trade, travelling between Syria and the UAE, but my family was based in Syria. In 2007, I was able to take a course in electronic communications in London. I stayed in London for six months. At the end of my course I headed to Damascus to see my family, in December 2007. | I used to work as a businessman in the mobile trade, travelling between Syria and the UAE, but my family was based in Syria. In 2007, I was able to take a course in electronic communications in London. I stayed in London for six months. At the end of my course I headed to Damascus to see my family, in December 2007. |
| The moment I arrived at the airport, I was detained by airport intelligence. The interrogator told me that they had a report of me meeting with Muslim Brotherhood members in London. It is true I used to go to the mosque in London to pray and meet with Syrians in the mosque, but I had no interest in politics at all. | The moment I arrived at the airport, I was detained by airport intelligence. The interrogator told me that they had a report of me meeting with Muslim Brotherhood members in London. It is true I used to go to the mosque in London to pray and meet with Syrians in the mosque, but I had no interest in politics at all. |
| I was kept at the airport for a day and was told to go to an intelligence centre in Damascus within 15 days. After the 15 days, which I spent with my family and relatives, I went to the centre, which was a residential compound: no one could believe this was a military base. | I was kept at the airport for a day and was told to go to an intelligence centre in Damascus within 15 days. After the 15 days, which I spent with my family and relatives, I went to the centre, which was a residential compound: no one could believe this was a military base. |
| The moment I arrived there, I was blindfolded and sent to another place: I could not figure out where it was. I was kept in a solitary cell, two metres by one and a half metres: I was blindfolded all the time. The only meal was cooked potato or tomato, and there was a bin as a bathroom. | The moment I arrived there, I was blindfolded and sent to another place: I could not figure out where it was. I was kept in a solitary cell, two metres by one and a half metres: I was blindfolded all the time. The only meal was cooked potato or tomato, and there was a bin as a bathroom. |
| For a whole month, I did not have a drop of water on my body. Every day I would be taken to an interrogator and the beating would start with cables. They used to sit me on a tyre and lift my body up, and the beating on my feet and arms would continue all through the interrogation session. | For a whole month, I did not have a drop of water on my body. Every day I would be taken to an interrogator and the beating would start with cables. They used to sit me on a tyre and lift my body up, and the beating on my feet and arms would continue all through the interrogation session. |
| After a month I was released: immediately I headed back to the UK. Thank God they had not circulated my name within the airport. I was able to flee in February 2008. | After a month I was released: immediately I headed back to the UK. Thank God they had not circulated my name within the airport. I was able to flee in February 2008. |
| When the revolution started in Syria in 2011, I started to take part in the protests in front of the Syrian embassy in London. It seems the embassy intelligence had taken pictures of the protesters and they began to threaten my family in Damascus. Security men went to my family and told them: if your father does not stop protesting in London, we will detain you all. | When the revolution started in Syria in 2011, I started to take part in the protests in front of the Syrian embassy in London. It seems the embassy intelligence had taken pictures of the protesters and they began to threaten my family in Damascus. Security men went to my family and told them: if your father does not stop protesting in London, we will detain you all. |
| So, fearing for my family and my old parents' safety, I stopped taking part in the protests: but the situation in Syria was getting so bad, and I was worried my family would be killed in random shootings. My eldest son was taking part in the protests too, without the knowledge of the family: we discovered only when he was detained by the regime. After his release, he went to China with my parents to join my older brother there. | So, fearing for my family and my old parents' safety, I stopped taking part in the protests: but the situation in Syria was getting so bad, and I was worried my family would be killed in random shootings. My eldest son was taking part in the protests too, without the knowledge of the family: we discovered only when he was detained by the regime. After his release, he went to China with my parents to join my older brother there. |
| I decided to apply for asylum in the UK and bring my family to London. I applied in June 2012 and within a month I was granted asylum. My family had to go to Beirut to get the visa and join me in February this year. To my surprise, one of the questions for applying for asylum was: "What is your sect? Are you Sunni or Shia?" I answered: "I'm Sunni." | I decided to apply for asylum in the UK and bring my family to London. I applied in June 2012 and within a month I was granted asylum. My family had to go to Beirut to get the visa and join me in February this year. To my surprise, one of the questions for applying for asylum was: "What is your sect? Are you Sunni or Shia?" I answered: "I'm Sunni." |
| Now, I have a house in Wembley with my wife and three children. I am happy the kids are enrolled in schools now. I'm still looking for a job but have not find one yet. But we feel much better that we are all together. I do not mix with all Syrians in London, as I suspect some of them work for the regime, but I have a few trusted Syrian friends I meet with. | |
| The situation in Syria now is working in the interests of Bashar al-Assad. He was able to plant Islamic groups to create chaos in Syria and also involve Iran, Iraqi shia militias and Hezbollah to give a sectarian stamp to the revolution. But despite all the challenges and obstacles, and the hesitant international position towards the revolution, the rebels and the revolution are still steadfast and I believe sooner or later they will win." | The situation in Syria now is working in the interests of Bashar al-Assad. He was able to plant Islamic groups to create chaos in Syria and also involve Iran, Iraqi shia militias and Hezbollah to give a sectarian stamp to the revolution. But despite all the challenges and obstacles, and the hesitant international position towards the revolution, the rebels and the revolution are still steadfast and I believe sooner or later they will win." |
| As told to Mona Mahmood | As told to Mona Mahmood |
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