Leaving Iraq

For years there has been a steady stream of people leaving Iraq. Our Iraqi buddy Isam Kalka tells us people make a pit stop in Jordan or Syria because it’s close and the countries have a history with Iraq, but after that most people travel on elsewhere. Two of the more popular destinations are Denmark and Sweden, and Sweden is currently receiving 63% of the asylum requests made to European countries. We talked to a couple of expats, and it turns out they all had different, but equally convincing, reasons to leave.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY VIOLET BAY AND ANTI ZUROWSKI

Vice: Why did you leave Iraq?

Aras:

My father was kind of a big politician, and he was forced to go underground.

He joined the resistance and it got bad; I couldn’t go outside because we had the police circling the house 24/7.

What is the biggest difference between Sweden and Iraq?

The two countries are so different I lack words to describe it. The only thing I can say to make people understand is that Sweden has been free from war for two hundred years, but Iraq has not yet seen peace. There’s two hundred years of difference for you. Nobody can imagine 30 years of Saddam. You could sit in a café and have no contact with any political party whatsoever and get taken out and executed. People were scared of speaking to each other.

Have you been back to Iraq?

I first went back there in 2002 because I missed my relatives, but I never saw them, I only put flowers on their graves. People were scared. Arbil and the Kurdish part of Iraq were guarded by UN forces and at the border you could see Saddam’s army waiting for orders to attack.

Vice: How long have you been here for?

Baho:

Eight years. I left with my dad because it was dangerous during the civil war. We went to Syria first, we stayed there for seven months and then we got our visas. But it took two years before my whole family came here.

What was the civil war like?

There was no electricity, no water, everything became really expensive and because it was going on all day long you had to stay at home all the time. Some relatives fled so that was sad. Our neighbours were gone too, and the streets were empty. It was scary.

What’s the best thing about Sweden?

That it’s safe, which is the main difference, and the freedom. Especially the personal freedom, you know, for boys and girls. It feels like my own country, it feels like home.

What do you miss about Iraq?

I don’t miss Iraq. I don’t miss anything apart from my relatives. During family gatherings my family is incomplete. I’d like to visit my relatives, but I would never move back there.

Vice: When did you arrive?

Zeed:

In December. I’ve only been here a few months. I had no one left in Iraq, my dad, my mum, all my brothers and sisters, everyone had moved to Sweden. There was no reason for me to stay.

Why Sweden?

I think it’s the best country that accepts refugees. It’s a country where you can live in freedom and build a new life.

What are your dreams now?

I want to keep studying for a while longer, and I want to get into this society and socialise and start building my life again. I think stability and safety are the things that will create great opportunities in my life. Countries that have those things will allow their citizens to plan and dream. When you’re constantly moving or fleeing you can’t start planning for your future. And that’s what Iraqis are missing, the ability to plan ahead.

What about the climate?

It’s really cold here.

Oh it’s fine. The snow is fine. It’s so bright, it brightens my life.

Vice: How long have you been here?

Sally: I

came on my own about three or four months ago. All my brothers and sisters left Iraq too, but they went to different countries, and none of them are in Sweden. Right now I’m waiting for my residence permit. I’ve been to the interview, and now I’m just waiting for the answer. Iraqi refugees usually get their permits though—it only takes about four months. It used to take longer than that, but they know it’s hard living there right now.

Why did you leave?

Life had gotten very, very complicated. You can’t go outside, you can’t work, you can’t do anything.

If you had to choose, where would you rather live, here or there?

Here! It’s safe, which Iraq isn’t. I’m an active person, and I just want to get a job as soon as possible. And I can go shopping here!

What do you miss the most about Iraq?

Nothing! There was nothing good there when I left.