He left everything to flee war in Syria. What does the war's end mean for his future?

Summary

Consider This from NPR: He Left Everything to Flee War in Syria. What Does the War's End Mean for His Future?

Release Date: December 29, 2024

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Introduction

In this poignant episode of NPR's Consider This, host Ari Shapiro delves into the personal narrative of Mohammed Al Rufai, a Syrian refugee who fled the ravages of civil war to seek sanctuary in the United States. As the Syrian regime under Bashar al-Assad crumbled in early December, Mohammed's story exemplifies the profound impact of geopolitical upheaval on individual lives. This episode explores the journey of displacement, the challenges of resettlement, and the hopeful future that emerges with the war's end.

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Mohammed’s Journey to the United States

Ari Shapiro opens the narrative by recounting his first encounter with Mohammed nearly a decade prior in Toledo, Ohio. Back in 2015, amidst the Syrian civil war’s escalation, Mohammed, then a 22-year-old refugee, managed to secure a visa to the U.S., a rare achievement as his family remained stranded in Jordan.

Ari Shapiro [00:18]: "Mohammed Al Rufai was a 22-year-old refugee. In 2015, millions of Syrians fled the civil war in their country."

Mohammed settled in a group house near the University of Toledo, forming bonds with his American roommates who affectionately nicknamed him "Mo." During this period, he diligently learned English and found employment at a halal butcher shop.

Mohammed Al Rufai [00:49]: "Chicken legs, chicken breast, goat steak, lamb, beef, turkey."

Despite establishing a new life, Mohammed yearned to reunite with his family in Jordan, a hope that remained fraught with uncertainty, especially following the political shift when Donald Trump was elected president.

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Challenges of Family Reunification

The episode highlights a critical juncture in Mohammed’s life when, in 2017, he became a U.S. green card holder—a milestone that promised family reunification. However, the path was neither straightforward nor swift. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his plans, pushing the American citizenship test to 2022.

Mohammed Al Rufai [01:31]: "I have the green card."

Mohammed's perseverance paid off when he finally became a U.S. citizen, opening the door to officially bring his family to the United States.

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Reuniting with Family

The culmination of Mohammed's long-awaited family reunification is captured through an intimate conversation in the transcript. After obtaining citizenship, Mohammed was able to reunite with his parents and siblings, who had relocated to Toledo a year prior.

Mohammed Al Rufai [01:48]: "Yes, yes, yes. I'm so glad I am now an American citizen."

Ari Shapiro narrates the emotional reunion, emphasizing the significance of this moment for Mohammed and his family.

Mohammed Al Rufai [05:43]: "They were crying and they was like, because it's like big, big. Like I don't know how we say, but it's big. Good for us, you know?"

The episode underscores the emotional relief and joy that comes with family reunification after years of separation and uncertainty.

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Adapting to Life in Toledo

With the entire family now residing together in Toledo, the episode delves into their adaptation process. Mohammed speaks fondly of their newfound stability and safety in the United States, contrasting it with the turmoil they left behind.

Mohammed Al Rufai [07:20]: "But I don't know how long to take to fix everything. I don't know when they will like fix it. But we're not going back now."

Mohammed’s parents have integrated into the local community—his father has made friends, and his mother has engaged in educational pursuits, enhancing their sense of belonging.

Mohammed Al Rufai [08:40]: "My dad and my mom, I buy a car for my dad and he has a lot of friends here. When my mom, she goes to school and she meets a lot of friends and she likes it."

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Reflections on the Future and Syria’s Reconstruction

As the Syrian regime falls, Mohammed contemplates the possibility of returning home. However, he expresses uncertainty about the future stability and reconstruction of Syria.

Mohammed Al Rufai [07:15]: "No, we're not going back to home because I don't know what's going on next."

Instead, he envisions visiting Syria in the future but acknowledges that significant time is needed to rebuild and ensure safety.

Mohammed Al Rufai [09:20]: "And if we go back to Syria, like I don't know when, like we'll say 10 years, 20 years. But we will love America because she is saving us and she took care of us and she helped us and she also she gave us passport like visa. This why we will love America forever."

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Family’s Connection to Syria

The episode also touches upon Mohammed’s extended family members who have returned to Syria. His aunt and uncle have been able to reclaim and renovate their former home, living openly without fear—a stark contrast to the previous oppressive regime.

Mohammed Al Rufai [08:00]: "They [aunt and uncle] like now they can't talk anything about Syria. Like because they freedom. They're not scared about anything."

This return signifies a cautiously optimistic outlook on Syria’s future, though uncertainties remain.

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Emotional Closure and Hope

In the concluding moments of the conversation, Mohammed reflects on the journey from Syria to the United States, expressing deep gratitude towards America for providing refuge and opportunities.

Mohammed Al Rufai [09:20]: "This why we will love America forever."

Ari Shapiro reiterates the emotional significance of Mohammed’s story, celebrating the reunion and the hope it embodies for other refugees worldwide.

Ari Shapiro [10:06]: "Well, Mohammad Al Rafai, it is so good to talk to you again and I'm really happy to hear that your family is reunited at last."

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Conclusion

This episode of Consider This masterfully intertwines personal storytelling with broader geopolitical developments, illustrating how the end of the Syrian civil war resonates on an intimate level for individuals like Mohammed Al Rufai. It sheds light on the resilience of refugees, the complexities of family reunification, and the enduring hope for a peaceful future both in their new homes and their homeland.

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Notable Quotes:

• Mohammed Al Rufai [00:49]: "Chicken legs, chicken breast, goat steak, lamb, beef, turkey."
• Mohammed Al Rufai [01:31]: "I have the green card."
• Mohammed Al Rufai [05:43]: "They were crying and they was like, because it's like big, big. Like I don't know how we say, but it's big. Good for us, you know?"
• Mohammed Al Rufai [07:20]: "But we're not going back now."
• Mohammed Al Rufai [09:20]: "This why we will love America forever."

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Produced by Matt Ozug and Michael Levitt, with audio engineering by Patrick Murray. Edited by John Ketchum and Sami Yenigun, executive producer.

Transcript

[Ari Shapiro]

When Syria's dictatorship fell in early December, a celebration broke out nearly 6,000 miles away in Toledo, Ohio. The first time I visited Toledo to meet Syrian refugees was nearly a decade ago. I met a young man living in a group house near the university.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

My name is Mohammed.

[Ari Shapiro]

Mohammed Al rufai was a 22 year old refugee. In 2015, millions of Syrians fled the civil war in their country. Muhammad's family went across the border to Jordan. But something strange happened. While Muhammad got a visa to come to the U.S. his parents and siblings did not. Nobody knew why families are usually kept together. So he settled into the group house in Toledo with a bunch of American guys who called him Mo. He learned English and got a job at a halal butcher shop.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Chicken legs, chicken breast, goat steak, lamb, beef, turkey.

[Ari Shapiro]

Meanwhile, he dreamed of visiting his family in Jordan.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

My mom do good food. Yeah, I miss him.

[Ari Shapiro]

But after Donald Trump was elected president the first time leaving the US seemed like a bad idea. Mohammed was afraid he wouldn't be allowed back in.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

I feel bad for they not with me. But I can't do anything for help him.

[Ari Shapiro]

In 2017, the guys at the group house called me with an update. Who wants to share the good news?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Mo, go say it.

[Ari Shapiro]

What'd you get?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

I have the green card.

[Ari Shapiro]

A green card. He told his family he would visit them in Jordan, but only once. He was a US citizen. He'd be eligible in 2020. But the pandemic kept him from taking the Test for another two years. Finally, in 2022, it happened.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Yes, yes, yes. I'm so glad I am now American citizen.

[Ari Shapiro]

And then I got this voice memo from him a few months later. Hey, my friend Mohammed was messaging me from Jordan.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Now I am with my family. My friend. Yep. How are you?

[Ari Shapiro]

The newly minted US Citizen was finally reunited with his family. So when the Syrian regime fell, I immediately thought of Mo. Consider this. The Syrian civil war changed millions of lives all over the world. We'll hear what the end of that war means for one man in Toledo and his family. From NPR, I'm Ari Shapiro.

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[Ari Shapiro]

It'S consider this from NPR. Until early this month, the idea of ever returning to Syria seemed like a faraway dream for millions of refugees like Mohammed al Rufai. But since the regime of Bashar al Assad fell, Syrians began flooding back home to cities they hadn't seen in more than a decade. I wondered if Muhammad was planning to do something similar. So I gave him a.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Hello.

[Ari Shapiro]

Hey Mohammed, it's Ari.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Hey, Ali. Good, good.

[Ari Shapiro]

So where were you when you learned that the government in Damascus had fallen?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

I was wake up at night and I have to go to work at around 3:00. And I was half my dad and my mom, they watching the news.

[Ari Shapiro]

Wait, wait, wait. Your dad and your mom were in Toledo?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

In Toledo? Yes, sir.

[Ari Shapiro]

So your family was all together when you got the news?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Yes.

And I wake up, you know, I sleep early because I have to work at night. And I wake up, open the door and I see my dad and my mom, they watching the tv. I say, what's going on? They said, just watch the news. They quiet and everyone, they watch the news. My mom and my dad and my sister and I look, I see it's Bashar. He's left in Syria.

[Ari Shapiro]

Yeah.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

And I called my job and I say, hey, I need day off. I'm not coming today to my work.

[Ari Shapiro]

Did they understand?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

You know, I'm waiting for that day. Like in 30 years ago or 14 years ago, everyone, they excited, they have good day for that day.

[Ari Shapiro]

Did your family hug? Did you cry? Did you sing like, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Like they was crying and they was like, because it's like big, big. Like I don't know how we say, but it's big. Good for us, you know?

[Ari Shapiro]

Of course. Yeah. I have so many questions. First of all, was your family just visiting from Jordan? Are they living in Ohio now? What were they in Toledo.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

They coming living in Toledo. Like one years ago, they moved to Toledo.

[Ari Shapiro]

So your whole family is together now?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Oh, yeah. I have my dad and my mom and sister and brother, they come like one years ago and we got house and we're living together now.

[Ari Shapiro]

That's incredible. So how have you been celebrating these last couple of weeks?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

You know we have a group at WhatsApp and they text us, they said hey, we will meet.

[Ari Shapiro]

Is this a WhatsApp group of Syrians in Toledo?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Yes sir.

[Ari Shapiro]

So everybody met up?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Yes. Like in, we'll say downtown of Toledo or Kroger parking lot.

[Ari Shapiro]

In the parking lot of the supermarket. Kroger.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Yes sir. Everyone, they like, they need that that day.

[Ari Shapiro]

Yeah. Does your family talk about going back to Syria? It has taken you so long to finally be together in the United States. Do you plan to stay in Toledo? What do you think about what comes next?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

No, we're not going to back to home because I don't know what's going on next.

[Ari Shapiro]

Sure.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

But I don't know how long take to fix everything. I don't know when they will like fix it. But we're not going back now. We because here it's more safe, more like good for us job like have more people like safe. But maybe, maybe not now, but maybe we'll go like visit back there. You know, I have a lot of friends. I have friends like family still. I have family there. I have my aunt, my uncle back home.

[Ari Shapiro]

When you talk to your aunt and uncle, what do they say?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Oh, they, they like now they can't talk anything about Syria. Like because they freedom. They're not scared about anything. Like they're not secret. And now they, they enjoy the life like they can't do anything. They go back home, you know, they are living in Syria, but not the house, the same house they own.

[Ari Shapiro]

They had to relocate.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Yeah. And now they go back to the house and they open the house, they clean it.

[Ari Shapiro]

So your aunt and uncle have been able to return to the house that they had to flee during the war.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Uh huh.

[Ari Shapiro]

How are your parents and your siblings adapting to life in Toledo?

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Like good. My dad and my mom, I buy a car for my dad and he has a lot of friends here. When my mom, she go to school and she meet a lot of friends and she like it, we not go back to Lake Syria now because everything here, it's good, everything safe.

[Ari Shapiro]

Yeah. When you sent me that voice memo from Jordan, it was the first time you had visited your family in seven years. And I'm sure it felt like such a rare, precious opportunity. Now they are with you every day. Does it feel normal? Does it feel like a dream? How does that feel? After so long of being apart.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

It's dream when we get out Syria because the president he was in Syria, he was like dangerous guy. And it's dream we got like here and safe and no one killed no one. He got in jail, that one the dream. And we find good life United States. And if we go back to Syria, like I don't know when, like we'll say 10 years, 20 years. But we will love America because she is saving us and she took care of us and she helped us and she also she gave us passport like visa. This why we will love as America forever.

[Ari Shapiro]

Well, Mohammad Al Rafai, it is so good to talk to you again and I'm really happy to hear that your family is reunited at last.

[Mohammed Al Rufai]

Thank you so much, Ali.

[Ari Shapiro]

This episode was produced by Matt Ozug and Michael Levitt with audio engineering by Patrick Murray. It was edited by John Ketchum and Sami Yenigun, who's also our executive producer. It's consider this from npr. I'm Ari Shapiro.

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