information > refugee voices

In the present climate of public misunderstanding and hostility, it is more vital than ever that the voices of refugees themselves are heard. Below are the accounts of just a few of the refugees and asylum-seekers who have courageously told us their stories. These snapshots offer a unique and poignant perspective on what it really means to seek safety in Britain today.

Amina

"I didn't even know the word 'refugee'. Then my husband was thrown in jail. The rest of my family were killed. Everything I had has been taken from me."

Aygun

"People shouldn't be racist. Then I could let my children go and play with theirs."

Eshe

"I don’t have happy memories of childhood. I remember the sound of people being beaten, and
women screaming."

Ferid

"I knew that the best way to help vulnerable people would be to establish a strong community."

Jennifer

"I was put in a hostel for asylum seekers. I cried - I felt the world was caving in on me. There is a stigma and I felt so ashamed I didn't even tell my friends."

Lisa and Khalil

"I was taken away in a car by the secret police. It was terrifying. They interrogated me and accused me of being a foreign spy."

Naima

"I was pregnant and there was nobody left to protect me. I knew I had to escape for the sake of my unborn child."

Sara

"We stayed there without any food for three days. I was pregnant and felt terrible. Sometimes people would come to the house and knock on the door, but when I opened it no-one was there."

Selima

"Whenever I see another mum bringing her children to school, I smile. But I am empty inside because I have lost my own children."