“We’re part of this society”

“I was only 17 when I fled from Syria. My parents were opponents of the Assad regime: they feared I would be drafted into the army and get killed. They gave me all their savings – about 3,000 euros. Travelling through Beirut and Turkey, I got to Greece by boat, then went on through the Balkans to Germany. Soon after my arrival I met Angela Merkel at a Berlin refugee shelter. I took a selfie with her and the photo went viral. A lot of people know my face because of that.

I’m often asked whether that was the most important day of my life. For me, it was the day I met Anna.

At that time I was studying media and business communication at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences. Fellow students had organised a pizza evening. I saw her and spoke to her straight away. Anna is from Kyiv in Ukraine and moved to Berlin to study engineering.

We met at a time when I was struggling with my studies. My German wasn’t yet good enough and I was worried about failing the exams, so I signed up for extra language courses at the university. Anna and I spent many months together in the library, often eight hours at a stretch. Whenever I wanted to give up, she motivated me. Without her I wouldn’t have passed my degree.

Then the war in Ukraine began in 2022. When Russian troops attacked Kyiv, I was able to give Anna support. I know what it feels like when life collapses around you overnight and your family is under threat. I encouraged Anna not to focus too much on the news. We went out a lot and took part in anti-war demonstrations. 

Grateful to be living in a country that is not at war

Today I’m grateful to be living in a country that is not at war. After obtaining my degree I gained a place at the Berlin School of Journalism. Now I work as a video journalist for Deutsche Welle – it’s a dream job for me. I also have my own TikTok channel where I tell stories about Syrian people in Berlin – bus drivers, cooks, postal workers. I want to show that we’re more than just refugees: we’re part of this society.

After the fall of Assad in 2024 I travelled back to Syria for the first time. Of course I miss my mother, the warmth of my homeland, the bustling city of Damascus. But my future is here in Berlin. Anna and I are engaged, she now works as an engineer. We want our children to grow up in Berlin.”