Hassan’s Story: Persuaded by friends to go, kidnapped for ransom
Hassan is a young Somali who arrived in Germany in 2015. After working in South Africa for a few years, he was persuaded by friends at home to attempt entry into Europe instead of returning south. Initially, he resisted based on the horror stories he had heard about the Sahara route. But his friends mocked him, questioned his courage and ultimately convinced him to try.
What he experienced during the journey through Libya and across the Mediterranean confirmed his worst fears. He witnessed brutal violence committed by traffickers; he saw people whipped and left to die in the desert. In Libya, he and his fellow travellers were kidnapped by traffickers who detained them in a compound and demanded ransom for their release.
“If anyone said anything against them, he was whipped and then thrown into a pool of cold water. They forced people to put their hands on the wall and beat them; they made people lie on the floor and beat their feet and neck.
If you got sick, you were on your own.”
People arrived regularly at the traffickers’ compound, many in shocking, weakened condition. One group of 20 had been held for two weeks in the desert without food. Five of them died. Hassan witnessed the deaths of many others in detention due to violence and deprivation. Some who could not pay for their release were summarily killed; often those who could not pay were forced to work for the smugglers until they had covered their “debt.”
Crossing the Mediterranean was another nightmarish experience. On the beach, he and his fellow passengers reacted fearfully to the size of the boat and refused to board. They were forced onto the small vessel by the smugglers who threatened to kill anyone who stayed on land. The boat was severely overloaded, carrying 105 people. At sea, just as they were approached by an Italian rescue ship, the boat capsized, and 50 passengers drowned.
Now in Germany, Hassan is haunted by the memories and trauma of his passage. He regrets his belief in friends’ promises of an easy journey; and is especially critical of the “fairy tales” people in Europe post on social media, describing their lives as “dreams come true.” Such posts are deadly since they persuade people to risk their lives and freedom along the irregular and dangerous migration route through Libya and across the Mediterranean.
“The diaspora in Europe who take photos and say we have a house and a car and are living a luxurious life; these are lies and are completely misleading people.”