Life of a student in Iran

This is one of the many wonderful people I met in Calais. 

He shared his story with me and wanted me to continue to share it so people can understand what’s happening to these people. 

This man has travelled from Iran, he was a mathematical student at university. One day ISIS fighters came into his university and shot everyone in the building. He survived due to hiding in cupboard from the attackers. 

Once escaping the building he returned home to find his family killed by the bombings. 

Left with nothing and tired of living in fear he made the decision to leave Iran.

After a 16 hour boat journey in one of those small boats we’ve all seen on the news, he arrived in Europe. He explained the horror of people dying on the boat, falling out due to the massive waves and drowning. 

Once in Europe he was assessed and sent to Bulgaria, on arrival in Bulgaria he was stripped of everything. All his clothes and what little possessions he had with him. He was just placed in prison where he was left for a month. He showed me the scars on his arms from the authorities allowing dogs to attack him and the other refugees. 

After a month he was given clothes that were not his and told to get out of Bulgaria. They didn’t care where he went but they made it clear it couldn’t be there. 

He’s now in Calais waiting to be allocated to another county for asylum. 

He was so bright and cheerful and was a pleasure to speak to. I feel so honoured to be able to share his story and I hope for him and so many others in the same situation.