REFUGEE
published in April by Harpercollins. The book has been optioned by Fox 2000 for a feature-length film.
In advance of two Westerville appearances — Friday at Otterbein University and Saturday at Church of the Master United Methodist Church — Al Samawi, now 32 and living in Miami, spoke recently with The Dispatch.
Q: Are you still in contact with the four people most primary to your escape: Daniel, Megan, Justin, Natasha?
A: They are my family. They saved my life and then they didn’t leave me alone. When I came to the United States, they supported me. Before, my dream was to work at a Starbucks in the United States. I never thought about writing a book or a movie.
Q: There seem to be new developments in Yemen every day, but the conditions there always seem to be dire. What is happening with the peace talks?
A: There’s no progress. There was progress before and everyone was optimistic, but just days ago, the conflict started all over again. The Houthis and the government sides are both corrupted. … Both are winning by keeping the war going in Yemen. Their families and friends aren’t living in Yemen anymore so they are not suffering.
You escaped from Yemen in 2015. I assume you have not been back?
A: I can’t go back. I hope one day I will be able to go back, but I don’t see any hope right now. Before, when I was in Yemen, I was trying as hard as I could to be undercover. What is so amazing about the United States is that you can do whatever you want.
Q: What has happened to your family? Do you contact them regularly?
A: My family is suffering from the war as most Yemenis are suffering. I do contact them through (the communication app) Whatsapp. That’s the only way I can contact them. For four years, they have not had electricity in their house. They have not worked for more than three years. The hospital where my dad used to work has been bombed by Saudi Arabian air strikes. I am afraid for them. Several months ago, Houthis came to my (family) asking about me. They told the Houthis they Author Mohammed Al Samawi, center, in Yemen
don’t contact me anymore and don’t recognize me as part of the family.
Q: What impact do you think the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has had on the war in Yemen?
A: When Jamal was killed, it put a lot of eyes on Saudi Arabia. … Now when I speak, people know more about Yemen. They know where it is and that there is a war there. All this credit goes to Jamal. The horrible way he was killed opened a new door for Yemenis to have a voice.
Before he was killed ... I was always fascinated with how he was speaking about Saudi Arabia. And I was afraid when he was killed. He had the same status as me and then he obtained a green card. When we have the green card (a permit allowing a foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States), we feel we are secure. The way he was killed made me afraid for myself and other activists.
Q: What’s your status in the United States?
A: I’m applying for a green card. When I came to the United States, I applied for political asylum and thank God they granted it. I have been waiting now for my green card, and I don’t know when they will give it to me. I can’t go outside the United States. I’d like to do speaking engagements in Canada and Europe, but I’m afraid what will happen to me. I went to Australia last year, and when I came back to the
U.S., I was stopped and put in a room and they asked me why I traveled outside the U.S. I was really afraid that they wouldn’t allow me to come back into the country. Eventually, I showed them a copy of my book and that seemed to satisfy them.
Q: Where do you live and what’s your job?
A: I live in Miami, Florida, but I’m moving to California. I’m going to open my own interfaith organization, Abrahamic House. The idea of this interfaith organization is to have a house in Los Angeles where a Jew and a Christian will live for free. But every Friday, they need to invite the Muslim, Christian and Jewish community into the house to speak about issues.
Q: What other plans do you have?
A: I’m an organizer with the Yemen Peace Project. We are trying to speak with senators and congressmen to encourage them to stop the war in Yemen. One of the reasons the war continues is because the United States invests in the war through arms sales. If the U.S. would stop sending arms to Saudi Arabia, the war would end.
I’m also involved with a Muslim-jewish solidarity organization based in New York.
Q: What is the status of the movie version of “The Fox Hunt?”
A: The movie has been optioned by Fox 2000. The producer will be Marc Platt who produced “La La Land” and the screenwriter is Josh Singer, who wrote the script for the movie “Spotlight.” When he started working on the script, the first thing he asked me for was a copy of the Quran. He wanted to know more about my religion and culture.
Q: You are a busy person.
A: I’m happy. I’m not afraid anymore that I will be killed, so I use that energy and appreciation to work.