Interview with an Iranian refugee family in Turkey: “We see nothing but unemployment, poverty, and illness”

July 13, 2010

Host: Every time we interview more Iranian refugees in Turkey, we find out that their main problem is a financial one. Today we talk with a refugee mother and her daughter.

Daughter: I’ll make it short. While living in Iran, we didn’t have a particular problem, but we decided to move to Iraq. My brother and my husband got jobs working with the US military and we lived comfortably there for six years, until a relative who assumed that my family had something to do with her divorce, and out of spite, reported to the Iranian government that we are working for the Americans in Iraq. This act made our return to Iran impossible. Then my brother got involved with an Iraqi girl from an Ashirati family, so we ended up leaving Iraq and moved to Turkey.

Ever since we arrived here, we have experienced nothing but headaches, money shortage, and all kinds of trouble. (crying)

Host: What happened to you?

Daughter: One day while standing at a bus station along with other Iranians, a car who had lost control of its breaks, slammed into the crowd and hit me and several others causing serious injuries. Today, three months has passed and no one asks me how am I doing. Every visit is costing me 20 to 70 thousand Tomans ($20-$70 USD). No one is willing to help with my medical needs, not even the man who hit me. I don’t want anything but at least for my medical expenses to be covered. Even the doctors don’t do much, except charge me each time. My wounds have not healed after three months and all my husband’s earnings are spent entirely on my broken leg.

Host: Did you file a police report? Did you make a formal complaint?

Daughter: Yes, we did, but the police hasn’t done anything about it. They are all in it together it seems, almost as if the intent is to exonerate the driver. They claim that his breaks failed and his tire busted, so it was the car’s malfunction. The man slammed into the crowd and hit me and eight other Iranians, some of whom are in worse shape than I am. Nobody has conducted any investigation or attempted to help us. All they tell us is to continue waiting for a court hearing, even if it takes up to a year and a half. Besides, taking the man to jail is not going to pay my medical bills. I have to pay for rent, food, and doctor visits. I have no way to do so. Maybe your radio listeners can hear this and help us in some way.

Host: We will now go to the mother who will speak on safety concerns.

Mother: Here, they either do not pay or pay very little wages to Iranian workers. Iranians have to fear for their safety and cannot make even brief stops anywhere for fear of getting attacked or harassed by Turkish citizens. My 49 year old husband was on his way home just yesterday when he was chased by several Turks who were cussing and insulting him. He ran away and hid in an alley. I’m sure younger people would not have the same patience and instead confront [the harassers]. And then there are fees that we have to pay the government for our stay here. It is really hard for us to live here.