A refugee’s gratitude

To The Guardian

My family and I fled my home nation of Kurdistan in 1999 due to the civil war. My father, like many other Kurds, sought a better life in Europe for his family as a result of the oppression faced from Saddam’s regime. He always said that if he had to choose between the wrath of Saddam and risking his family’s life, or negativity from a minority that didn’t want him in Britain, he would have always chosen the latter.

Compassion shown by Gary Lineker about the treatment of refugees led to an outcry and negative responses including “they come here and take our jobs”, and the classic “they come for our benefits”. I wanted to share my story of coming to Britain, and of being here for reasons other than stealing your jobs or your benefits.

I was four when I came to Europe. First we settled in Holland and eventually we moved to the UK. At school I struggled with the language, growing up in poverty, and facing racism. However, we integrated, learned the language and adapted to become part of British society. My siblings and I all studied Stem subjects at top universities across the UK. I’m currently a chemical engineering undergraduate at the University of Leeds. I’m extremely thankful for what the UK has given me. My family and I have had multiple chances to move abroad and make a lucrative living. We never accepted those offers because Britain is now our home. The people who have welcomed and accepted us have been far greater in number than those who haven’t. We want to be here and help Britain grow, pay back the debt that we feel we owe the UK, and work towards making Britain great, no matter how much negativity a minority give us.

If we weren’t forced out of Kurdistan, we wouldn’t have moved. However, I do want to make it clear that my family, like many others, didn’t come here to sponge off British society. We came here to be part of your society. So thank you, Gary, for showing compassion for those who need it. Mohammed Ali, Leeds