As a Palestinian living in the Middle East outside of the Palestinian
autonomous territories, I was already a refugee. We were looked
down upon by everyone, and all the governments made life hard for
us Palestinians. Here in Denmark I am met with respect for the person
I am, regardless of my background.
I was born and raised in Kuwait, but when Iraq attacked Kuwait in
1990, we returned to my parent’s hometown of Homs in Syria. A
knee injury put a stop to my career as a professional football player,
so I established a company for import of goods from China. But the
civil war in Syria went on not only to destroy my business but also my
family home, so we fled to Turkey, where my family bought a house.
But my childhood friend Mahmout and I wanted to start a new life in
Europe.
Now I am happy to be out of the Middle East. Their governments
are evil. In Denmark everything is under control, and there is no
corruption. It is a good system. You may pay high taxes, but you get
help if you become ill. In Skagen, I had job training at Prime Ocean,
and subsequently a proper job at the fish processing plant. It is a
good place, and the bosses treat everybody alike.
Not all refugees were offered a job after
their job training. I honestly don’t get it.
Instead they hire people from Eastern
Europe, who speak neither Danish nor
English, and who send all their money
home. At least us refugees learn Danish
and use our money locally. And we
want to be active and manage on our
own.

Ghazi Azzouni / 33 / male / in a relationship / no children / works at a fish
processing plant / Skagen / Palestinian from Syria / came to
Denmark in 2016 / residence permit and asylum granted same
year