Brothers-in-migration: Real-life prince and an Afghan journalist who hid in a coffin to sneak across borders
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Sohrab Balkhi
Sohrab Balkhi was a producer of a TV programme on social issues in Afghanistan when he ran afoul of the Taliban for his independent views, and voice of justice and liberty. Threatened with death, he decided to leave the country in 2011 and sneaked across the borders of India, Africa, Turkey, Greek and finally Austria – hidden in a coffin. Now living in exile in Austria, he recalled how at times “I struggled for oxygen” during that horrendous journey across borders. He refuses to be branded an economic migrant and is firm in the belief that he must return to his homeland once peace returns and independent thinking is permitted.
Nigerian Prince Wale Sonyiki, President of his country’s African Society, lives in Croatia but yearns for the day when he would return to serve his people. “I am a real-life prince and treated like dirt here. Everyone thinks we have come here as economic migrants to get social security.” A Christian, he recalled how his two elder brothers were killed by Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist group backing calls for an Islamic way of life, just because they belonged to another religion. “When people are attacked the modus operandi is for the first attack to come from Boko Haram. Government forces follow and anyone not killed in the earlier attack is shot dead by the forces,” he said recounting how he took a bus road on a desert route, bribed 14-year old gunmen and ended up in Croatia instead of the planned Italy.
Wale Sonyiki
Reflecting on life in Europe as a refugee, he said most refugees are harassed by locals who openly told him ‘go away from Croatia, we don’t like Africans’. Forced to live without dignity in Croatia, Prince wants to return. “Nigeria is rich but the problem is security and corruption of politicians. I would urge everyone in Nigeria or Africa, don’t leave if you are safe at home. I have seen many people die while fleeing and life is not a bed of roses in exile.” Both political refugees shared their concerns during a panel discussion on migration which included Alexandra Föderl-Schmid, Chief Editor – Der Standard, Austria and Mona Hemmer – Past Vice President, Eurocadres; Secretary, Multiculti, Finland.
Ms. Hemmer said her small village, when told that a group of Iraqi refugees were arriving, was worried. Some of the concerns were likely clashes with locals and other issues. “However when we found they were families with women and children, our village welcomed them. We organized classes for them. Our attitude changed from hostility to hospitality.” Journalist Föderl-Schmid said it was a challenge reporting on the negatives and the positives of migration. “Our readers were negative about refugees. We got a lot of negative reader comments. However it was important to also show that people care (in the worst of times).” She said there were many reports of rape and looting of supermarkets by migrants but many of these stories were untrue.