104
The story of Ali , 15 years old , Northern Iraq
Ali
The story shows :
• Experienced several serious losses , including the death of his father in an explosion .
• Experienced repeated sexual abuse from his stepfather .
• Escaped and spent some time in a large refugee camp .
• Struggles after being resettled in a new country , feeling guilt for his mother , concern for his younger siblings , and no faith in his stepfather .
• Is depressed , sad , unable to eat , solitary , passive .
Ali lived with his family in a village surrounded by hills . His father had a small shop near the market . Ali ’ s mother always encouraged Ali to study and to help his father in the store . He was very close to both his parents and dreamed of becoming a successful businessman .
War became part of their everyday life . The children went to school , the adults worked , the market bustled with people from all over the area . One day Ali and his father went out to look for some herbs that grew in bushes on the outskirts of the city . About five hundred metres from his home , Ali ’ s father suddenly shouted “ Watch out !” and there was a loud explosion . Ali ’ s father had stepped on a landmine . Ali was all alone in the field with his dead father . He felt a great pain in his chest , his feelings were confused , and he did not understand what had happened .
After this incident , Ali and his family went through a very difficult period both financially and socially . Ali was plagued by nightmares and flashbacks about what had happened to his father . After a while , Ali ’ s mother remarried . Ali was initially happy to have a new father figure . But his new stepfather came into his room when he was asleep and abused him sexually . Night after night . His nightmares and traumas , which had weakened for a while , reappeared . Ali again felt desolate , sad and distant , and this time his mistrust affected his relationship with his mother . He preferred to be out of the house and was late going to the market . When it got dark , Ali was afraid to go home but did not know where else to go . His mother saw his pain but did not understand the cause ; she thought the old trauma had returned .
Ali decided to go away . He remembered that some of the older boys in the market had spoken of a man who , for money , could help him leave the country . Early one morning , Ali took money from his stepfather ’ s savings and boarded a truck alongside other young people , men , and some women with children . It was dark , and the person in charge told them to be quiet . Terrified , he sat with his knees tucked against his chest . He lost track of the time . Suddenly the truck stopped and someone opened the doors . After walking for several hours , they arrived in a refugee camp .
APPENDIX
One day , Ali was led by an employee into an office in the camp . The official wanted to know his age and whether he had identification . Ali took his ID from a plastic bag . The man started typing on his computer . Ali was photographed and fingerprinted . Many months later , Ali was told he could collect his belongings because he had been granted asylum abroad . After a long flight , Ali arrived in his new country and was placed in a reception centre . A nurse gave him a medical examination . The abuse he had suffered was not mentioned . At the centre , he was perceived to be a very scared and shy boy that no one could reach ; he was especially inaccessible to male employees . Ali had his own room and on most days he stayed in bed .