‘I heard that a bomb exploded near my children’s school! I don’t know if they are safe, if they have been hurt! I don’t even think about the worst case scenario, I can’t! I need to get to them as soon as possible! Tears are running down my cheeks and I can’t stop shaking. I can’t catch my breath. The fear for my children’s lives is overpowering and I am no longer a woman – I am the Will to see them, to be with them, to make sure that they are OK, that they are ALIVE!
I cannot find anyone who’s not afraid to take me to the school. Everyone is scared for their life, I am scared for my children’s… I cry and I beg anyone that I can to help me get to my children! Finally a taxi driver takes me in the direction of the school but nowhere near where the attacks have occurred and where the school is… It doesn’t matter, even this far is better than nothing.
I am almost there. As I approach the school building I see the bullet holes in the walls. My heart starts pounding so hard I can almost taste the blood it’s pumping… Where are my children! I can hear myself screaming although my lips do not open…’
My Muslim friend has shared her story with me. She hasn’t used these exact words to describe what she had been through but as a mother I imagined that this is what I would feel. This happened 14 years ago but despite the time that has passed I could see that all the memories were very vivid and it was not easy for my friend to talk about these events. She fled her home country, Palestine, with her family, because of the attacks from their neighbours. They came to the UK where they have lived, worked and studied for many years.
This amazing woman, a wonderful mother and one of the kindest people I have met has been through something unimaginable with her family.
Trying to get a visa to come to the UK she almost lost her life. When she was going to the British embassy a bomb exploded right next to her. Her father started screaming ‘Just leave! Leave the country!’ Yes, who cares about the paperwork when every moment of every day could be your last.
They left. Not everyone was so lucky. They left hoping that one day they would be able to go back. They left not because they had a choice but because they did NOT! The choice had been made for them by the people with guns who did not care if they were aiming at school children or bombing hospitals.
Is what they’ve found here a better life? Persecution because of their faith, accusations and prejudice against them because of ignorance and bias in media.
No bombs and guns but verbal abuse. Who said that words don’t hurt? Bad words are always first and shortly after bad actions follow.