Seeking Refuge by Stephan Bauman

Author:Stephan Bauman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Moody Publishers

With more space, we could share literally hundreds of additional stories of local churches, throughout the world, that are responding with the love of Jesus to those fleeing persecution. As the world faces an unprecedented refugee crisis, though, the reality is that the need—and the opportunity—is far greater than the church’s current response. Our prayer is that you and your church will join in this remarkable mission.

CHAPTER 8

Sameer, an Iraqi refugee, had been in the United States for two months when I (Issam) visited his home for the first time, referred by his World Relief caseworker who had noted some struggles in his adjustment. Sameer’s wife, Sara, led me into their clean but sparsely furnished living room. A few minutes later, Sameer, a rail-thin thirty-three-year-old, limped into the room on a pair of crutches. I noticed that he had a scar around his neck, which he covered with a scarf. He welcomed me with a big smile and expressed his gratitude to see me, then his wife assisted him as he sat on the couch. After a short while, the air conditioner suddenly came on and gave Sameer a start. He apologized for this behavior, explaining that he is sensitive to any noise.

In sharing his story with me, Sameer said his troubles in Iraq went back to his childhood. His parents were taken regularly for questioning by Saddam Hussein’s henchmen. Sameer’s parents often disappeared for days and sometimes weeks before they returned home. One day when Sameer was about six years old, his mother was taken as usual, but she never came back. At the time Sameer did not understand what had happened to her, but now he believes that she died under torture.

Because of these family dynamics, Sameer had to learn from a young age to be self-reliant. He worked hard to support himself and his siblings. He was eventually able to graduate from a community college, though he faced a number of hurdles to studying beyond high school because the government discriminated against people of his religious identity.

In 2007, when Iraq descended into a civil war between Sunni and Shiite Muslim militias, Sameer found a job as a security guard at a Baghdad hotel that catered to foreigners. One day, after finishing his shift, he was on his way home with two friends when their car was stopped at a security checkpoint. Sameer knew that he was in trouble when militants asked him and his friends to get out of the car.

Sameer had a dilemma. He carried two distinct ID cards, each with a different name implying a different sectarian identity. This was a common practice among Iraqis at the time, because people were kidnapped based on their religious affiliation, and different sectarian militias controlled different neighborhoods in Baghdad. Which ID would he present?

He handed one to the militants and held his breath. They looked it over and then grabbed Sameer and his friends, blindfolded them, and took them to a deserted place. Sameer was beaten and tortured for hours.

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