From Iran to Gifhorn: Hami Amiri's moving escape history

Hamed Amiri, ein 32-jähriger Friseur aus Gifhorn, berichtet über seine Flucht aus dem Iran und sein neues Leben in Deutschland.
Hamed Amiri, a 32-year-old hairdresser from Gifhorn, reports on his escape from Iran and his new life in Germany. (Symbolbild/MND)

From Iran to Gifhorn: Hami Amiri's moving escape history

Gifhorn, Deutschland - Hami Amiri, the 32-year-old hairdresser from Gifhorn, has had a long and moving journey. Born in Iran, he experienced flight, war and the separation from his family. He has lived in Germany since 2016 and has opened his own hairdressing studio here. Touching stories about his homeland and the painful memories of his family who lives in Iran tell a lot about the reality of refugees. "I haven't seen her for ten years," says Amiri. The uncertainty about the whereabouts of his relatives remains a constant companion in his life, which is characterized by the war between Israel and Iran. "There is something," he notes when he talks about the situation in his homeland. Read more about Hami Amiri's history and the challenges with which he is confronted Waz.

Amiri initially fled to Turkey, where he spent a year. A risky boat transfer via the Mediterranean to Greece cost him over 5,000 euros. He remembers: "Another boat sank and 60 people drowned." These terrible experiences are part of a greater trauma that share over 120 million people worldwide, many of them drove through wars and climate catastrophes. The challenges with which refugees are confronted are closely linked to the structural difficulties in Germany: lack of housing, lack of places in educational institutions and high hurdles for integration into the labor market. Germany plays a central role in the current refugee situation, because it remains the main destiny for many who are looking for a new home, as dbb.

A new beginning in Germany

But life here is anything but easy. "I was not allowed to work in the first year, my training was not recognized," says Amiri. He taught himself the German language while waiting for a language course. With a mini job as a hairdresser, he finally started his fresh start. In the meantime, he has opened the "Amiri" hairdressing studio in Borsigstrasse, supported by friends and the community of the Gifhorn Friedenskirche, which was helpful to him. A bank had refused to finance him due to his uncertain residence situation.

"Charity and solidarity are what matters for me," says Amiri about how important he was supporting other people. At a time when more and more refugee people in Germany are fighting for a new life, the refuge is a living question for many. The Christian communities worldwide are committed to those seeking protection and are committed to their rights. However, the challenges at the municipal level should not be underestimated, such as EKD illustrated: Here a joint action is asked to convert charity into concrete help.

The future remain uncertain

Although Amiri has started a new life and is married in Germany, his future remains uncertain. His residence permit, which he received after a long waiting time of eight years, only applies for three years. The questions about family reunification and integration options are of the greatest importance for many, not only for him, and contribute to uncertainty. "I hope that one day I can see my family again," says Amiri in a quiet voice. "But now we enjoy our life here with our daughter, who was born when we were in Germany."

Reality for many refugees is complex. Access to work is often restricted, but after eight years around 86 percent of refugee men in Germany can find a job. Over 31,000 people have lost their lives at the EU external borders in recent years. Asylum -political changes since 2015 show how polarized the discussion about migration and integration is. With over 29 percent of the population who have migration history, Germany is a country of immigration, but the questions of justice and humanitarian responsibility remain.

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