The heart-wrenching story of Ahmed Alhashimi and his seven-year-old daughter, Sara, has captured the world’s attention. The duo were among the passengers on an inflatable boat that tried to sail from France to England. Unfortunately, the boat capsized, and Sara died, suffocated by the weight of the boat’s occupants. Ahmed is inconsolable and blames himself for what happened, as he was unable to save his daughter. He has been howling in anguish, beating his chest and expressing unending guilt and grief.
Ahmed is an Iraqi immigrant who had been living in Europe for over a decade. He had fled Iraq due to threats from militia groups, but his attempts to settle in various European countries proved futile. For the past seven years, Ahmed’s children had been residing with a relative in Sweden, but the Swedish authorities had recently informed them that they would all be deported to Iraq.
Desperate to save his kids from a life of uncertainty and instability, Ahmed decided to make a dangerous journey across the English Channel from France to England, hoping to find refuge in the UK. He had attempted the journey four times before and was determined to succeed this time. Ahmed paid smugglers 1,500 euros per adult and half that amount for each child to help them make the perilous trip.
On the day of the ill-fated journey, Ahmed attempted to save Sara after the inflatable boat capsized, but it was too late. She suffocated amidst the commotion, and Ahmed had to watch helplessly as she passed away in his arms. Ahmed’s wife, Nour AlSaeed, and their other two children, 13-year-old Rahaf and eight-year-old Hussam, were also on the boat but managed to survive.
Since the tragedy, Ahmed and his family have been staying in France, where they await Sara’s burial. Many have criticized Ahmed for putting his family at risk, but he insists that he had no other choice. Had he known there was a slim chance he could protect his children and keep them safe in Europe, he would have taken it. Ahmed now appeals to the British government for support and compassion, hoping that they can help him and his family find safety and stability in the UK
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