TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Asylum seekers from Iran grow desperate

Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Makassar
Fri, August 11, 2017

Share This Article

Change Size

Asylum seekers from Iran grow desperate Struggle for life: A child of an asylum seeker from Iran shows a poster with a message, which reads 'We are waiting for 4 years', during a rally on Wednesday in front of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Makassar, South Sulawesi. (Antara/Abriawan Abhe)

“Give me a chance to go to school, to achieve my dreams and to continue my life normally, just like other children,” said Mojib, 11, a child of an asylum seeker from Iran, during a rally on Wednesday in front of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Mojib is the youngest son of Iranian couple Khalil and Fataneh Sayed. His parents brought him and his older brother to Indonesia as refugees in 2012 as their home country was no longer safe.

When he arrived in Makassar, Mojib had never gone to school as he was only six years old at the time. However, during his stay in the city Mojib has still never gone to school. He has only learned how to read and write at home. His education is minimal. He cannot yet read or write fluently.

“He can only write his name with ease,” said his mother, Fataneh.

Mojib is longing to become a doctor. That is why he hopes he can be immediately moved to a third country so that his citizenship status will be clear and he can live a normal life.

“I want to go to Australia, to study there until I become a doctor,” Mojib said.

Romina Pou Bihanta, 12, shared a similar story. Together with her parents, Romina has been in Makassar for four years. When they left their country, she was a second grader.

to Read Full Story

  • Unlimited access to our web and app content
  • e-Post daily digital newspaper
  • No advertisements, no interruptions
  • Privileged access to our events and programs
  • Subscription to our newsletters
or

Purchase access to this article for

We accept

TJP - Visa
TJP - Mastercard
TJP - GoPay

Redirecting you to payment page

Pay per article

Asylum seekers from Iran grow desperate

Rp 29,000 / article

1
Create your free account
By proceeding, you consent to the revised Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.
Already have an account?

2
  • Palmerat Barat No. 142-143
  • Central Jakarta
  • DKI Jakarta
  • Indonesia
  • 10270
  • +6283816779933
2
Total Rp 29,000
{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.