Mohammed Zaki Samir Abara

I am not foreign, but neither am I Danish. I think that the Danish government should improve the way they address “problems” with foreigners, especially when they speak about ghettoisation. In Denmark it is always the Muslims from the Middle East who are to blame. In the United States, the blacks are blamed, and in Syria it is the Palestinians. But I am sure that if everyone in the community was treated alike, you wouldn’t have this “problem”.

In 2014 my father suddenly disappeared in Syria, and my life changed overnight. One day I just couldn’t get hold of him from Denmark, and I knew that something was wrong. After that experience, I became a completely different person. I was engaged to be married when this happened, but we split up soon afterwards. Following this I experienced a lot of health problems. I had difficulties breathing, and I had no appetite. When my teacher at the language school found out what had happened, she said that she could be my family here, and that I should not feel alone. I actually don’t feel alone anymore. I have many friends, Danish as well as other foreigners, and despite my often being the only foreigner at school, at the boxing club, or at my place of work, I rarely feel foreign. But my loss still torments me. The constant uncertainty frays my nerves. My father has always played a big role in my life. My values are based on everything he taught me. He is a feminist and believes that everybody has the right to be treated equally. He taught me how to drive a car when I was 11, he gave me my first apartment when I was 16, and when I was 18 he helped me buy my first restaurant. He believed in me.

28 years / male / single / Vanløse / attends 9th grade / from Syria / came to Denmark in 2013 / residence permit same year