Kurdistan

My name is Rashid Tamer.I came from a country called KURDISTAN and I'm sure many of you haven't heard this name before because it is a land divided between four occupying countries and ruled by iron and fire through the oppressive regimes of IRAN, IRAQ,TURKEYand SYRIA.

Turkey

Unfortunately Kurdistan is a country of natural beauty with its famous mountains such as Ararat, Zagros, Mattin and Jodey. It is land locked so the oppressors took the opportunity to try and rape Kurdistan many people ran away from Kurdistan. As I was a target for Saddam's regime in IRAQ. I left beacuse I was politically Active and against the regime. First I reached Turkey, but I couldn't stay there because the Turkish goverment is also an enemy of the Kurdish people.

forced to flee

I nearly died after being shot

In 1988 I left my country with my family and more than 100.000 Kurdish people gencide campaign because of the Iraqi regime called ANFAL and we went to Turkey. We stayed there for four years in a Kurdish city called Merdin which was under the control of the Turkish forces.One day in 1992-7-11.

I went with some friends for a picnic, we left the camp and we approached the city center but, the Turkish security forces did not let enter the city center. I tried to talk to one of them but they opened fire on us and they killed one of our friends and injured some others and I was one of the injured.

After that an amulance came to take me to hospital me with my friend called Ismet. he now lives in America. Also security men called to interview me about two relatives they wanted to arrest. I left hospital after about 15 days. They didn't give me any medicen. The ambassador from America visited me to help to free me from the hospital.

safe in Leeds

England

I came to England in 2000 and I had no idea what Britain looks like when I first came here.I enjoy staying and living in this country as I feel secure here.