Today is World Refugee Day. I became a refugee almost a decade ago. Forced to leave home never wanted to leave. Left and thought it would be for a day or two. Left heart there and been living without a heart since then….

#WorldRefugeeDay
The minute I crossed the borders I got a new label and it stuck with me since then… “a refugee”
Wherever I go, whatever I do, whoever I got to interact with, I will alway have the label “refugee” accompanying me…
Ten years of my life, my entire twenties, have been identified by the very term “refugee”. Most of the time I didn’t care much about it, other times I was so furious about that…
The most frustrating experience was when some people would reduce my entire being into one word “refugee” - There were times when I had to actively remind people that this is a “status” and that I still have other parts of myself exactly like you…
As well as being a “refugee”, I’m also a father, a teacher, a lover, a dreamer and so many other things. It frustrates me when you only see that one thing in me and ignore the rest…
One of the most irritating experiences has been when I got invited to tv, radio, events etc was the fact when I got introduced they would focus on the “refugeeness” and sort of deliberately omit the rest of myself… although I requested being introduced in a certain way…
This was and still quite frustrating and I think some people (•••) would benefit from learning about how others would like to be included when it comes to introducing them
It makes a difference if you ask people, I found it extremely helpful and respectful… don’t take it away
For me, World Refugee Day has been a daily occurrence/reality since I left home almost 10 years ago. It’s full of successes and losses, lots of ups and downs. So many great things and not so many great things too…
There were horrible things that happened along the way. Saw mass graves, saw children torn into piece, cared for victims of sexual enslavement, lived is some of the most squalid places, ate and drank things that no human can imagine being forced to do…
Despite all of the awful things that had happened, there were so many amazing things and people that made this journey more bearable…
This journey has introduced me to many incredible people. People that have made a huge difference in my life… People who gave me a hand when I needed it. People who saw and firmly believed we’re all EQUAL
People may forget things, but for me, I will never forget those acts of kindness. The looks, the smiles, the kind words, the random messages from strangers that I met along this journey…
Random people gave me food when I was starving, smiled at me when I was hopeless, wished me luck when I was stuck, provided me shelter when I was homeless, guided me when I was lost… to all of you I say: THANK YOU…
There are SO many unsung heroes out there. I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart…
Treat people the way you want to be treated. Never take anything for granted. Put yourself in people’s shoes. You might be lucky today. Tomorrow things might change for you or your kids. Sow a good seed today for you never know what tomorrow will being you. Thank you ❤️

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More from @ahmadalrashid99

24 Mar
Thread

Yesterday evening, I co-hosted one of the most inspiring events of my entire life. Incredible people like @AlfDubs and some of Syria’s most talented musicians were featured. All of us were offered sanctuary, embraced and welcomed in the UK

The UK has a long history of welcoming those fleeing some of the most brutal regimes and wars. From the Nazis in 1940s to those fleeing the war in my home country, Syria...
It was saddening to wake up to the news about the new proposed changes to the UK immigration/asylum law. All of those featured in the above video won’t be here today had this law been introduced earlier...
Read 26 tweets
9 Aug 20
Thread:

I was an asylum-seeker, I’m a refugee now! I find it very disturbing, disheartening and difficult to keep reading, watching and listening to peopel dehumasing peopel like me! I try to keep positive as much as I can but sometime it’s just too much...
The abuse you receive online and the xenophobic attacks you encounter is something I have been living with from the minute I was forced to leave my house in Aleppo in early 2013 - this has become part of my everyday life...
The stunning thing is that most of the abuse, mostly online, was encounterd in Europe and the UK. This is something I fail to comprehend...
Read 18 tweets
28 Feb 20
Thread:

People trying to cross from Tureky to Greece or Bulgaria after yesterday’s developments in NW Syria need to be aware that now there are lots of smugglers and human traffickers are offering to “help”.
Since yesterday lots of WhatsApp groups created to promote this
Smugglers and human traffickers see this as a great opportunity. Desperate people fleeing war, conflict and deprivation and now they are being offered hope somewhere in Europe. It’s not that easy. Smugglers are building on this and promising to get people to Europe with a feee
Some already started to promote routes and offer discounts for those who want to travel to Europe. Please be careful. These are criminal groups and they care about nothing but money. They see people are money and only money
Read 7 tweets
13 Nov 19
On World’s kindness day,

I was met so much kindness since I was forced to leave my home country, Syria. Lots of strangers helped and supported me along the way. The journey has been shaped by endless small acts of kindness that helped make life bearable

#WorldKindnessDay2019
From Many Iraqis&Kurdish friends to numerous friends and people that I made in the UK since 2015
The first act of kindness was offered to me was by a police officer after I got out of the lorry and I was traumatized but also overjoyed that I survived it
#WorldKindnessDay2019
Coming from a region where police brutality was prevalent, I was met by a couple of police officers who were very kind when they arrested me they told me that they were doing their job and that I shouldn’t be afraid of them. They offered me food, water & asked if I need a doctor
Read 13 tweets
23 Oct 19
No words can describe how I feel today. I have read the news about the bodies found in the back of a lorry with lots of horro. It brought back memories of my journey when we were stuck nearly to death in lorries and tankers and freezers with meat and chicken

Photo from 2015
The death of fellow humans whose bodies were found near Essex had me losing my mind. I was there before in 2015. I can fell what they have been through. I can hear them screaming to death because I was there. I can feel them clinging onto life but in-vain
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…
The screams of these people still haunts me. I can never forget that moment when I touched death while being kept in the back of the freezer lorry. I can never forget the eyes of those who were with me on that tanker, no air, no light nothing but the smell of death
#refugees
Read 15 tweets

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