The story of Syrian Ahmed Hami symbolizes the tragedy of his country

Emine Algan/ DUVAR

Ahmet Hami grew up in a large family in Syria's second city of Aleppo. He was the youngest of 14 children. The year he started high school, what were first sporadic outbursts of violence quickly turned into a full-fledged war across the country. Bombs went off and civilians were struck by gunshots. Yet in spite of everything, life went on. During his last year of high school, Ahmed started working as a waiter in a restaurant to support his family.

One morning in August 2013, as he was leaving home, Ahmed felt a sting in one of his kidneys. He figured that he the pain didn't abate, he would go to hospital after his work shift. The pain did not dissipate. But as he was about to ask permission from his boss to leave work and go to hospital, a blast struck. It was an ISIS bomb attack.  

Ahmed woke up in hospital. In a dazed state, he saw his mother, father and eldest brother and found out he was paralyzed from the waist down. He was sent to Turkey in an ambulance, and received a variety of treatments over the course of several months at hospitals in Urfa, Ankara, Diyarbakır, and it was eventually concluded that he would need spinal surgery, which would require him to go abroad. 

Upon entering Turkey, Ahmed was given a temporary identity card. He applied for a passport which he was declined. With his temporary ID and doctor reports, he applied to various consulates, but was unsuccessful. Then, his uncle, who has lived in Greece for twenty years, got involved. The family decided that Ahmet would have to be illegally smuggled into Greece, as no other option remained. 

Just minutes after boarding a vehicle that was to help them in their passage to Greece, Ahmed and four others were stopped and arrested by police. Confused, Ahmed found himself in jail. It turned out some of the people in the vehicle had warrants out for their arrest on terror charges. The prison Ahmed was being held in could not treat him, so he was sent to another prison in the region.

Ahmet says the prison he was then sent to in the Izmir district of Menemen was deprived of bathrooms, hot water and fresh air and no treatment was provided. He stayed in a cell for a year and a half, without visits of phone calls and was not even able to see a lawyer. At one point, he heard someone in a nearby single cell try to hang himself, failing when the rope broke. Afterward, prisoners held in single cells embarked on a hunger strike to obtain better living conditions.

Ahmed was held for a total of two years and eight months in two prisons. During this entire time, he was unable to speak with or see anyone from his family. In July of last year, he was finally released due to health reasons but his case is ongoing and he is banned from leaving the country. His lawyer Leyla Çelik and the co-head of the Human Rights Association (İHD) Eren Keskin are trying to ensure Ahmed's return to Syria. 

Since his release, Ahmed has lived in Diyarbakır, where he must stay as that was where his temporary identity card was issued. His family, who live in the Syrian border city of Kobane, send money to Ahmed so he can stay in a small hotel. 

“I came here for treatment, and for treatment while trying to go to another country I was punished and thrown in jail. I still couldn't receive treatment,” Ahmet said, adding that he spends his days reading and with the help of hotel staff is able to wander around the city's main square in his wheelchair. Ahmed learned Turkish in jail. His favorite authors are Mehmed Uzun and Musa Anter. 

Ahmed misses his childhood home of Aleppo, but in spite of the hardship he has suffered, he remains hopeful. 

“I don't like politics, my aim is to study. God willing if these days pass I will study medicine because I want to provide healthcare services. While dealing with my own health, I became quite experienced, and I could provide an even better service,” he said with a smile.