The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You

The abandonment of a particular religion, apostasy of Islam is punishable by death in Iran, and Maman flees Iran with her children due to her activities with the underground Christian church. Although Maman received asylum without much scrutiny, today’s officers are more critical of Christian asylum seekers as it is the most popular category. The office expects a detailed account of how Islam did not satisfy the seeker’s spiritual needs, a period of questioning, and an intense commitment to a new faith.

When a person of a minority community adopts the language and culture of the majority, this is a process of assimilation. The state can enforce assimilation, such as the Farsi-only schools in Kurdistan, or the immigrants can pursue it as a means of integrating into society. Maman insists on her children adopting Western values to make them appealing to humanitarian organizations. This involves not only learning English, but also changing her son’s name to Daniel and teaching them how to swim so that they can pass as middle class.

Refugees require approval from a host nation, or asylum, before they can reside in the country legally. This includes extensive interviews and documentation, and refugees wait in camps for approval.