Ahmed Qassim (18) fled from his hometown Aleppo to Germany because of war and persecution. We met him and talked to him about his escape, the attacks in Paris and his fear of groups like Pegida.
When did you come to Europe?
About four and a half months ago.
How did you get here?
By plane from Turkey.
Did you have a visa for entry?
No, I paid someone in Turkey to forge a Greek passport for me. I had to pay almost 13,000 euros for that.
How did you get into Turkey before?
I crossed the Syrian-Turkish border on foot. The border crossing is now closed and very dangerous to cross. But refugees have no other choice.
Where do you live at the moment?
In a refugee home.
Did you arrive with your family or friends?
I am here alone. My family and friends can’t choose whether they come here or not. If they could, they would of course come. But it costs a lot of money and the way is very difficult. I now have a few friends in Germany, some of them German, some Syrian.
Do you keep contact with your family in Syria?
Yes, of course. I also follow the news very closely. I have friends and family in very dangerous areas of Syria. So every day I have to watch what is happening there.
Is your family living in a war at the moment?
Yes, of course. They are also in danger because of me. I was on the side of the revolution and worked as a photojournalist. The regime wanted to arrest me. Now they are after my family.
Did you escape because Assad’s regime wanted to arrest you?
No. I lived in the area controlled by the Free Syrian Army a few years ago. It fought for democracy and freedom, for revolution. But three years ago ISIS and Al-Qaeda came to Aleppo. It was like a very big black spot in front of my eyes. I could see no more light and hope. So I fled. Of course I was also afraid of Assad’s army. The civilian population wants democracy and the regime tries to silence or kill us. Nobody understands why.
How were your first months in Europe?
The beginning was difficult. Everything in my life has changed. I had to understand that first. My life started all over again, in another city, in another country. In the first two months I had to fight mainly with the bureaucracy. I spent the whole time with applications or waiting for applications.
What was going through your mind at that moment?
I was very sad about what happened in Paris, and I still am. It is difficult for me to express my feelings; especially in another language, but also in my mother tongue. Something like that hurts everyone. It is a terrible feeling.
Do you have the impression that something has changed in Germany since the attacks?
I heard somewhere that the refugees are to blame for what happened in Paris. I want everyone to understand that refugees are not terrorists. We have fled from such terrible and ugly people. I hope that the people or groups who hate refugees will come into contact with them and get to know them personally.
Do you feel safe in Germany?
To 70 percent, yes.
What about the other 30 percent?
There is no completely safe place in the world. I am afraid of people from both Germany and Syria.
Who in Germany are you afraid of?
Of groups like Pegida. Their membership and influence may not be so great yet. But after the attacks in Paris, perhaps more people will join them.
What plans do you have now?
I have just started my German course, which makes me very happy. My dream once was to study in Oxford. I even had a place to study English literature at Aleppo University to prepare for it. But I was never able to study because the Assad regime persecuted me. At the moment I am thinking about studying media studies at a German university. But first I have to learn German well, that will be a lot of work.
This interview was first published on ze.tt on 15 November 2015