In a story of resilience and emerging hope, the Alhashemi family, who have navigated 15 years of uncertainty across Europe, are finally seeing a brighter future. Their journey, marked by the devastating loss of their seven-year-old daughter, Sara, during a perilous Channel crossing in April 2024, has taken a turn.
After facing imminent deportation from Belgium, the family attempted the dangerous crossing, during which Sara tragically suffocated in an overcrowded boat. This devastating event left the family in deep grief, grappling with their loss while seeking asylum.
Recently, a ray of hope arrived in the form of an email from a French refugee agency, offering a chance at stability. Ahmed Alhashemi, the father, shared his cautious optimism, while his eldest daughter, Rahaf, diligently practices French, aiming for a normal life.
Having fled Iraq due to threats, Ahmed and his wife Nour found love in Belgium but were denied asylum repeatedly, leading them to seek refuge in Sweden before facing new challenges. Their application for asylum in France, made after Sara’s death, was a complex bureaucratic journey.
However, in March 2025, the family was moved to a permanent apartment in Rouvroy, France. Rahaf found solace in creating a tribute to Sara, and Nour expressed relief, saying, “I can breathe now.”
Their outlook transformed further with the birth of their new baby daughter, Sally. The name, a poignant echo of Sara, signifies a new beginning and the hope for a brighter future. “It means I can see Sara in her,” Nour shared tearfully, “God willing, Sally will be lucky in life and achieve everything that Sara might have done.”
While acknowledging that some may criticize their past decisions, Ahmed expressed profound gratitude for their current stability: “We have suffered for 15 years. Always on the move,” he stated. “But now I feel as if my whole life has opened before me. I can work, I can rent, I can pay taxes, and I can help my children achieve their dreams.”
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