Alone, Iraq's teenage migrants head for Sweden

[Barrett808]

Source: Middle East Online

Alone, Iraq's teenage migrants head for Sweden
Iraqi families pay thousands of dollars to smuggle their minor children out of war-torn country.
By Peter Apps – STOCKHOLM

Alone and vulnerable, teenage boys such as Said Karim and Muddher Mahmod are among the 4 million people who have fled their homes in Iraq.

Like many other refugees, they made the long and dangerous journey to seek sanctuary in Sweden, the only country in Europe that could be described as welcoming for Iraq's displaced.

"I want to achieve things I would not be able to achieve in Iraq," 16-year-old Said through a translator at a centre for Iraqi underage refugees on the outskirts of Stockholm. "I last saw my family two years ago. They are happy because I am away from death."

Sitting in the centre's spotless kitchen with two other boys recently arrived from Iraq, Said said he left his family in Baghdad two years ago at the age of 14 as sectarian violence between his Sunni Arab community and Shi'ites began to rise.

Read more: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=22718

[GeminiProgressive]

1. Thank God for Sweden's

Socialist and egalitarian prinnciples..I know no country is perfect but Sweden could really teach most other countries a lot about human rights and compassion.

[Selatius]

3. I am more cynical as far as governments go, including Sweden's government.

There's a labor shortage in Sweden, and the business interests need cheap, easily exploitable labor to replace the indigenous workers, 80% of whom are unionized. France did the same thing decades ago with North Africans. Now, the North Africans are living in squalor in inner-city ghettos, and the situation boiled over in 2005 with the rioting in France, a reaction to the blatent racism encountered and the lack of opportunities. To be sure, Sweden can teach us a thing or two, but I wouldn't ascribe such high values to something that is likely more base and exploitative in nature.

[aquart]

4. Thank you.

It isn't going to be paradise for these children, separated from family, adjusting to different customs and language.

[Amonester]

5. Well, it sure won't be "paradise" purity...

so, maybe they should have stayed in Iraq's hell... (which nancy & reid like to play politics with).

:sarcasm:

[Quantess]

7. The customs are very different.

The culture shock will be immense. Plus, their heads will spin at Sweden's egalitarian gender roles.

[closeupready]

6. However, there are other, more abundant sources of cheap labor.

So, I'm not sure that explanation is the primary one, though it probably is part of it. From my understanding, refugees make good, motivated workers, and if there are jobs waiting for willing people, then that's probably a better outcome for all parties than the alternative.

[Amonester]

2. Thank you, Sweden.

I wish I could say the same to this country I live in.