The Journey from Refugee to Citizen is Long and Rare

In the parking lot of Interlaken's train station, the fresh mountain air is filled with the delectable aroma of doner kebab. This scent comes from a small food stall run by chef and owner Ibrahim Haji. As some Asian tourists wait, he shaves spiced meat with a sword-length knife, catching the slices in warm, pillowy flatbread, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.

“They told my father he would have to fight in the war with Kuwait,” Ibrahim shared while serving his customers. Ibrahim and his father fled Iraq and came to Switzerland as refugees in the 1990s. “A lot of Iraqis died in that war,” he said sadly. “My father made the right decision.” The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 led to the Gulf War, which left over 125,000 dead Iraqi soldiers and civilians.

Many believe refugees stay in their host country and become citizens, but most remain temporarily, with only a small percentage gaining citizenship. “In the 1990s, it was very different, not many refugees in Switzerland.” In 1994, when Ibrahim and his family reached Switzerland, there were 15.7 million refugees worldwide. Today, that number has risen to 43.4 million, with an additional 6.9 million asylum seekers. This increase has shifted attitudes, making the situation more challenging.

The United Nations states that refugee camps primarily provide temporary shelter, safety, and essential services, not permanent resettlement. Less than 1% of refugees are resettled. Along the way, refugees undergo multiple steps, with some being denied and returned. "It's not as easy as what people think," confirmed Ibrahim.

Ibrahim's journey began with his father coming to Switzerland alone. “My father had nothing, no visa, nothing. But he did many papers.” After four years, Ibrahim, his siblings, and his mother were granted permission to join him. They lived in a refugee camp but were together again. "My father made a home for us," Ibrahim said.

Although they couldn't leave the camp, they received German lessons. After a few months and more paperwork, they moved to a second camp with more freedom. “Some people were rejected and had to leave” he said. In 2023, 1.2 million refugees were returned to their country of origin.

Ibrahim explained. His family stayed in the second camp for three years while their asylum applications were reviewed. Ibrahim attended school, but his parents couldn't work until the permits were finalized. Eventually, they settled outside the camp.

Although his parents struggled, Ibrahim found learning German easy at five years old. Eventually, he graduated high school, married an Italian Swiss woman, and opened a business. “Thank you to the Swiss people,” said a grateful Ibrahim. “Very friendly, very good people, the best European people.” He went on to say, however, that everyone is not as lucky as he. The situation is different for recent refugees. “They need more time” he explained and more documents that are subjected to more scrutiny.

Ibrahim's story is a rare success, but not idyllic. His father eventually returned to Iraq, unable to integrate or learn German. Ibrahim, though a permanent resident, is still not a Swiss citizen. The vast majority of refugees will never achieve even this level of stability.

Antonio Graceffo is from Fairfax Station, Virginia. He attended WJI Europe 2024.