From refugee child to politician: the first Finnish MP born in Somalia | Finland News

[ad_1]

In 2008, Suldaan Said Ahmed was 15 when his family arrived in Finland after fleeing civil war in Somalia.

Her childhood memory is filled with haunting acts of violence and displacement.

“I saw a dead man being driven in a wheelbarrow,” he told Al Jazeera, recalling the gruesome scenes that dominate his last memories of Mogadishu.

The fighting in the Somali capital, where Ahmed was born, has been so intense that his relatives fled to neighboring Ethiopia, before traveling to the northern nation through family reunification.

They first settled in Kontiolahti in the North Karelia region, eager to start a new peaceful life.

But the initial feeling of relief quickly faded and was replaced by hostility and fear.

There were only a handful of black families in their neighborhood, surrounded by a “sea of ​​whites,” Ahmed said, many of whom were fiercely opposed to refugees and foreigners.

Physical and verbal assaults, including death threats, have become “a part of our daily life,” he said.

When his friend’s father was stabbed in broad daylight after leaving Friday prayers, they again fled in search of safety.

At first, Ahmed’s mother considered moving to the UK, but then they decided to live in Helsinki, where he started his activism and successful political career.

“I saw a future in Finland despite the challenges and wanted to do something,” he said.

Thirteen years later, at age 28, he became the first Finnish MP born in Somalia and twice Helsinki city councilor.

Al Jazeera spoke to Ahmed, who will take office in September, about his remarkable story.

Al Jazeera: What do you remember about the war in Somalia that uprooted your family?

Sultan Said Ahmed: I remember that we took shelter in our neighbor’s house which was made of concrete and which protected us from mortar rockets and bombardments. I remember seeing a dead man being driven in a wheelbarrow, it was the first time I saw a corpse, the image of the feet of the body tied together is still imprinted in my mind.

When we finally decided to leave town, we were attacked by militiamen on the way. They stole everything from us, including my favorite Brazil jersey which I loved to wear when playing soccer.

Al Jazeera: How would you describe your experience arriving in Finland as a child?

Ahmed: We arrived during the financial crisis, the country was tense and xenophobia was on the rise. The level of hatred and racism was shocking. I remember when I went to the market on weekends, people chased us and cursed us. We did not expect such hostility.

Al Jazeera: How did you cope with these challenges?

Ahmed: I believe it starts with an individual to trigger movement and inspire change. When we moved to Helsinki, I found more black communities and other Somalis, but there was no one to represent and defend them. So I started to reach out to people and get involved in local community events.

At first it only made things worse for me. I have attracted so much negative attention and have been targeted both online and offline. However, this did not prevent me from continuing my mission. I am motivated by the thousands of people who joined me last year for the first Black Lives Matter events in Finland.

Al Jazeera: How did you come to the Helsinki City Council?

Ahmed: I joined the Left Alliance party and was elected vice president in 2016, becoming the first black person to lead the party. It gave me the opportunity to travel across the country and learn more about the people and the political system.

In 2017, I was a candidate for Helsinki City Council and won. I started to bring the voice of ordinary people to the town hall. I have presented over 12 motions, including the first anonymous recruitment initiative in Finland which allowed people to submit their applications without name, address and other personal information, in order to increase opportunities for blacks and minorities.

Al Jazeera: Have you suffered any backlash because of your political ambitions?

Ahmed: In 2019, I was assaulted by members of an extreme right-wing group while campaigning for the parliamentary elections. I was carrying my campaign leaflets when two men came up to me and asked me if I was Suldaan, and when I said yes, they immediately started beating me.

They said, “Never dream of being in parliament. I lost the election that year, but I never gave up hope.

Today, the dream they thought they could stop has come true as I have officially replaced my colleague from the Left Alliance, Paavo Arhinmäki, who is appointed deputy mayor of Helsinki. I’m making history and if I saw these men today I would tell them that Finland is bigger than them.

The people of Helsinki voted for me twice to be their city councilor and now I will represent them in parliament. This is the honor of my life and I want to put all of my energy into making sure I deliver what is expected of me.

My victory is for everyone, especially for the refugees who are forced to flee their homes and who seek the opportunity to contribute to their new country and realize their potential.



[ad_2]

Source Link