I'm Ali , 29 years old, writer from Syria. I worked as a journalist in Syria since 2011 until 2016
I left my country on August 2017, and arrived Iran ( because it's the first country accepted me without visa).

In Syria it was so bad situation, I was banned from attending poetry meetings, or working in my zone (journalism), because I didn't want to be part of that war, I just support living together humans like we born to be, and leaving Syria wasn't easy, it is not like any country you can just leave, you have to be so strong and lucky to have that. And after many times of trying I did it. 

When I arrived to Iran some guys helped me, I didn't know anyone in Iran. Then I went to UN asking for asylum because I wanted to reach Europe or Canada and Australia from the first of my travel, but I found out my passport was good to leave but so bad to reach my destination.
In the UNHCR centre, they said "we can't help you until Iranian government accept you like a refugee" and I knew this is impossible. They won't accept any Syrian like a refugee because they are back of Syrian government in war so they want us to fight not to leave. I left because I don't want to kill and to be killed. I want to tell my opinions, to write and publish my books and novels. The thing I couldn't do in Syria.

In Iran I suffered so much, I worked with cleaning WCs in buildings and restaurants, day and night just to stay alive. I stayed 9 months in a place under a building, I stayed in such situation for a year.

I had beem exploited because I was working for less than 8$ for 13 hours per a day. During this time, Iranian government did not accept to grant me a residence , and my passport expired.
I was scared ( am still like that) to visit the Syrian embassy in Tehran to renew my passport, I'm pretty sure they'll return me to Syria.
I made rumors that I died, to prevent people asking and searching about me. Later I decided to go illegally ( because I couldn't travel with my passport, my situation in Iran was overstay, and Turkey didn't give visa for Syrians) to Turkey to seek asylum from UN there.
I had to pay someone all my money to reach borders. On the borders Turkish army caught us and took everything we had. They tortured us there in a place free of everything but darkness and coldness. They used their guns and truncheons to hurt us savagely and harshly. I had injuries in my body on my feet and on my face.
When I told them "I'm Syrian" and wanted to seek asylum, they hit me more than others, and forced us to return to Iran.

I arrived the nearest village to borders, I said "I don't wanna try to go to Turkey again, I'll go back to Tehran" they threatened me and said you'll be dead here in this mountains if you say that again. I stayed some days. They let me go back because I couldn't move at that time. I looked at my legs and cried. What will happen if I can't play football again? If I can't run as fast as before? If I can't be the fastest again?
I left that terrific place to Tehran, physically and mentally tired, homeless and hopeless. I had nothing. Specially when I found Syrian government announced me as a "DEAD" person.
Only dreams stayed inside me that I will live again to be happy and free. To be active in my new home between my new family, to write and play as a professional football player.

I slept on grass in parks for weeks, and I thought like someone want just to die. I was thinking about Sofia the Robot, she has a passport, she can travel. I thought about pets can travel, and I can't.
I stuck in Iran for 20 months and I have nothing in my hands to do.

I thought about committing suicide and finish this difficult travel. When you born as a Syrian, problems born with you. You should fight and fight just to stay alive or at least keep your dreams alive.
But I see this life still deserves to live, and I want to have the chance and opportunity to stay strong and If I kill myself, I killed millions of thoughts, hundreds of dreams and unique ideas.

Now I need a real serious help. I need a European country or Canada government  Or Australia government accept me as a refugee that helps me in resettlement in a third country, to have the right to travel there and start a new, free, happy and normal life. I need to have a travel document to be able to start again strong. If I lose this chance I'll be back to Syria by force, to see the war eats me, my country and my dreams again and again.
I see hundreds of planes flying every day up in the sky, I want one of them to take me away for a new life.
There's no place like home. We are different by color, face, language and beliefs, but we are all still humans.
Maybe a safe place, a warm hospitality and lovely people can give me a home again.

For more details, specific informations or help.

Contact me by this email:

Elia.Miwashra@gmail.com

Or Instagram : @nmiwashra