Michigan: Living in freedom

Lutheran, The, Jul 2003 by Blezard, Rob

Fleeing Saddam Hussein's regime in 1991, Nidda Al-Hisnawi's parents and four brothers made it to Kuwait's border. But then her mother returned to her daughter's home to retrieve something.

Al-Hisnawi's husband drove his mother-in-law back to the border. Although the in-laws eventually made it safely to the United States, Hussein's forces took note.

"They got [my husband's] license plate number, and they caught him because they said he was helping his in-laws flee the country," Al-Hisnawi said through an interpreter. Hussein's men constantly watched them and occasionally picked up her husband for interrogation and beatings. After they took him in 1995, she never saw him again. Years later she got word he'd died in jail-code that he had been killed. "They never say they kill people," she said. "They say they had a heart attack or something."

Last September, the 34-year-old widow came to the United States with her son and three daughters. With the help of family and Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, they settled in the Detroit area. Like many Iraqis, she feels freer to tell her story now that Hussein is out of power.

"People were afraid before," said Dejan Dokic, director of LSSM's refugee and immigration services program. "If they spoke to the media or to any papers, that would have a tremendous impact on their families in Iraq." The persecution Al-Hisnawi's family faced is an example, as is that of Salam Potros, 49, who came to Michigan as a refugee last August with his wife and five children.

Potros was routinely interrogated after his brother escaped to the United States. Hussein's men even came to the house. Potros was most afraid for his children, especially Mark, now 18, who was pressured to enlist as a fighter.

"Because he refused, they didn't let him finish his high school," Potros said through an interpreter. "It's either you join us or no graduation." So Potros paid a small fortune for illegal passports to get his family to Jordan, then to the States.

Al-Hisnawi, who lacked money and passports, sneaked into Jordan in 1998. Over a month later, the family got a ride to a spot 20 miles from the border and walked into Syria. They stayed there until they were allowed to enter the United States as refugees. Met at the airport by family, Al-Hisnawi told her LSSM caseworker, Jewan Poulis, that she finally felt safe.

Such stories aren't unusual among her clients, said Poulis, also an Iraqi refugee. "Nobody is granted asylum without a strong case," she added.

Though the refugees plan to stay in the United States, they are pleased that their relatives in Iraq have the chance to live in freedom. "[Al-Hisnawi] said she needs to thank the American troops that liberated Iraq ...," Poulis said. "She's very thankful. We are all very thankful. All Iraqis."