Opening Gates Irony!
This is the story of a wonderful humanitarian group called “Voices in the Wilderness” and an Iraqi man who befriended and began working for them in 1996. Unfortunately, due to the present conditions in Iraq, revealing his name might endanger him, therefore, I will refer to him as “M”, but he and his family will have to remain nameless. 1996 was the year that Voices was formed to nonviolently challenge the economic warfare being waged by the US against the people of Iraq, and they began to deliberately violate the US/UN sanctions by soliciting and transporting medical supplies to Iraq.
For the next 7 years this man, translated, provided and protected approximately 70 “Voices” delegations, driving them between Amman and Baghdad as well as within Iraq itself. Although educated with a highly skilled degree, his job had been terminated due to the economic conditions the sanctions had caused and he began to take any job that he could get which would provide for his family. This led him to become a driver and through some twist of fate, the invaluable component needed by the Voices to make their work effective and efficient.
It became apparent soon after the American led invasion in 2003, that Iraq was becoming too dangerous for even humanitarian groups such as the Voices. Reluctantly, they began to leave Iraq leaving their many friends and acquaintances behind, including their dear friend and driver, “M”. He, with great sadness in his voice had said when the American troops arrived in Baghdad that Iraq was no longer just his country, that it now also belonged to Americans….a statement that really hit the hearts of his Voices friends.
Although they were no longer in Iraq, those from Voices in the Wilderness did not forget “M” and a couple of years ago, they managed to get him a tourist visa to visit them in America. For one month he traveled around the country visiting his Voices friends, hosted in their homes on funds that they provided. While there he explored the possibility of continuing his education and was able to get a full scholarship offer where he could get his Masters Degree, all expenses paid. This was an agonizing thought, on one hand here was an opportunity to further his education which could make him more marketable world wide, and on the other hand, there was the knowledge that he would have to leave his wife and children behind in increasingly unsafe Baghdad.
Returning to Baghdad, he consulted with his wife and his family asking them whether he dared to grab this opportunity, knowing full well the cost it would mean to them. The decision was finally made but en route to Amman to fly to the states to begin his studies in late August, the car he was in suffered a terrible accident just outside of Baghdad when the driver tried to avoid hitting an elderly man crossing the road. The driver, a friend of his was killed and he suffered a fracture to his left leg, broken collarbone, lacerations to the face and foot and had to undergo an operation which left him with two screws in his leg. It looked like his chances to begin his studies this year were over but no, with only a few days to go before the window of opportunity closed to use his student visa, “M” made the dangerous, grueling trip to Amman and from there to the States, arriving with his leg swollen to 3 times its normal size.
Although he began his course one month after classes began, “M” managed to get straight A’s the entire year despite also being hospitalized for 4 days due to a blood clot in his leg. Naturally he missed his wife and children desperately and after consulting an immigration lawyer, decided not to risk a trip home for the summer, as he had only a single entry on his student visa and should he leave, the chances were that he would not be allowed back in the States to finish his studies. Therefore, he began to investigate the possibility of bringing his family to the States. After acquiring all the necessary guarantees and paperwork, they were given an appointment for an interview at the American Embassy in Amman. For some unknown reason, despite having a US embassy in Baghdad with 3,000 workers, Iraqis must travel the life-threatening road to Jordan to apply for their visas at the US embassy there.
Therefore, in mid June, “M’s” wife and children braved the dangerous 12 hour drive across the Iraqi desert to Jordan. Unfortunately when they arrived they were not allowed in and had to turn around and drive back to Baghdad with stamps in their passports that showed that they had been denied entry. This is when I got an email, with only 2 days left before their appointment at the American Embassy, asking me if there was anything I could do to help them gain entry should they attempt the trip to Jordan again. Thankfully, after more than 40 years in Jordan, I knew the right person to ask to try to help, my husband’s office assistant who seems to know everyone in Jordan.. Her contacts, in turn, took it upon themselves to see that, despite the offending stamps, this simple young family would be allowed to come into Jordan so that they could keep their American Embassy appointment. Although the assurances I got that they would be allowed in proved to be right, the family ended up, after the agonizing drive, waiting for 9 hours at the border for this to happen. This meant that they arrived in Amman the morning of the appointment, but too late to make it.
The one component that I have yet to mention is that on this side, waiting for them was one of “M’s” friends from “Voices”. In anticipation of their arrival she had rented a small apartment and had gone daily to the American Embassy to let them know that the family might not be able to make their scheduled visit. She was assured that they would then be given another date and was therefore shocked when, yes, another date was given, but not before 3 weeks…meaning that the 1 week entry visa that they received at the Jordan border would expire many days before.
This is where the irony sets in. I, American born, American citizen living in Jordan, was able, due to a tremendous effort and kindness on the part of many people, to overturn this family’s original ban to enter Jordan. But despite all attempts, with the help of additional friends and acquaintances, I am unable to gain them entry into the American Embassy before the date that has been stamped on their appointment paper. The information that was given by someone in the consulate was that unless there was a death or a medical emergency, the interview date couldn’t be changed.
How unbending can one get?? Yes, I know that there are great demands on the embassy staff, but surely there is always, or should always be, room for an occasional exception. After the drama that this family has been through one would hope that a sympathetic ear would be available…but alas, no luck so far.
Now it looks like I will need to appeal to my contacts again to see if we can get the Jordanian authorities to grant a visa extension to the family. This only underlines, once again, the irony of this situation. Here I am, as an American, able to open the gates of Jordan for these people, but I can’t open for them the gates to my own embassy!!!
KAG
For the next 7 years this man, translated, provided and protected approximately 70 “Voices” delegations, driving them between Amman and Baghdad as well as within Iraq itself. Although educated with a highly skilled degree, his job had been terminated due to the economic conditions the sanctions had caused and he began to take any job that he could get which would provide for his family. This led him to become a driver and through some twist of fate, the invaluable component needed by the Voices to make their work effective and efficient.
It became apparent soon after the American led invasion in 2003, that Iraq was becoming too dangerous for even humanitarian groups such as the Voices. Reluctantly, they began to leave Iraq leaving their many friends and acquaintances behind, including their dear friend and driver, “M”. He, with great sadness in his voice had said when the American troops arrived in Baghdad that Iraq was no longer just his country, that it now also belonged to Americans….a statement that really hit the hearts of his Voices friends.
Although they were no longer in Iraq, those from Voices in the Wilderness did not forget “M” and a couple of years ago, they managed to get him a tourist visa to visit them in America. For one month he traveled around the country visiting his Voices friends, hosted in their homes on funds that they provided. While there he explored the possibility of continuing his education and was able to get a full scholarship offer where he could get his Masters Degree, all expenses paid. This was an agonizing thought, on one hand here was an opportunity to further his education which could make him more marketable world wide, and on the other hand, there was the knowledge that he would have to leave his wife and children behind in increasingly unsafe Baghdad.
Returning to Baghdad, he consulted with his wife and his family asking them whether he dared to grab this opportunity, knowing full well the cost it would mean to them. The decision was finally made but en route to Amman to fly to the states to begin his studies in late August, the car he was in suffered a terrible accident just outside of Baghdad when the driver tried to avoid hitting an elderly man crossing the road. The driver, a friend of his was killed and he suffered a fracture to his left leg, broken collarbone, lacerations to the face and foot and had to undergo an operation which left him with two screws in his leg. It looked like his chances to begin his studies this year were over but no, with only a few days to go before the window of opportunity closed to use his student visa, “M” made the dangerous, grueling trip to Amman and from there to the States, arriving with his leg swollen to 3 times its normal size.
Although he began his course one month after classes began, “M” managed to get straight A’s the entire year despite also being hospitalized for 4 days due to a blood clot in his leg. Naturally he missed his wife and children desperately and after consulting an immigration lawyer, decided not to risk a trip home for the summer, as he had only a single entry on his student visa and should he leave, the chances were that he would not be allowed back in the States to finish his studies. Therefore, he began to investigate the possibility of bringing his family to the States. After acquiring all the necessary guarantees and paperwork, they were given an appointment for an interview at the American Embassy in Amman. For some unknown reason, despite having a US embassy in Baghdad with 3,000 workers, Iraqis must travel the life-threatening road to Jordan to apply for their visas at the US embassy there.
Therefore, in mid June, “M’s” wife and children braved the dangerous 12 hour drive across the Iraqi desert to Jordan. Unfortunately when they arrived they were not allowed in and had to turn around and drive back to Baghdad with stamps in their passports that showed that they had been denied entry. This is when I got an email, with only 2 days left before their appointment at the American Embassy, asking me if there was anything I could do to help them gain entry should they attempt the trip to Jordan again. Thankfully, after more than 40 years in Jordan, I knew the right person to ask to try to help, my husband’s office assistant who seems to know everyone in Jordan.. Her contacts, in turn, took it upon themselves to see that, despite the offending stamps, this simple young family would be allowed to come into Jordan so that they could keep their American Embassy appointment. Although the assurances I got that they would be allowed in proved to be right, the family ended up, after the agonizing drive, waiting for 9 hours at the border for this to happen. This meant that they arrived in Amman the morning of the appointment, but too late to make it.
The one component that I have yet to mention is that on this side, waiting for them was one of “M’s” friends from “Voices”. In anticipation of their arrival she had rented a small apartment and had gone daily to the American Embassy to let them know that the family might not be able to make their scheduled visit. She was assured that they would then be given another date and was therefore shocked when, yes, another date was given, but not before 3 weeks…meaning that the 1 week entry visa that they received at the Jordan border would expire many days before.
This is where the irony sets in. I, American born, American citizen living in Jordan, was able, due to a tremendous effort and kindness on the part of many people, to overturn this family’s original ban to enter Jordan. But despite all attempts, with the help of additional friends and acquaintances, I am unable to gain them entry into the American Embassy before the date that has been stamped on their appointment paper. The information that was given by someone in the consulate was that unless there was a death or a medical emergency, the interview date couldn’t be changed.
How unbending can one get?? Yes, I know that there are great demands on the embassy staff, but surely there is always, or should always be, room for an occasional exception. After the drama that this family has been through one would hope that a sympathetic ear would be available…but alas, no luck so far.
Now it looks like I will need to appeal to my contacts again to see if we can get the Jordanian authorities to grant a visa extension to the family. This only underlines, once again, the irony of this situation. Here I am, as an American, able to open the gates of Jordan for these people, but I can’t open for them the gates to my own embassy!!!
KAG
posted by joladies at Saturday, July 01, 2006
1 Comments:
Ironic that the bureaucracy that was supposed to liberate should disable people in this way.
I feel your frustration and wish for a positive outcome.
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