A 'history of wounds': Refugee women's connection with Luxembourg

Ennas Al Sharifi is one of two Iraqi journalists working with Iraqi photographer Ali Sahib to share their experiences and those of people like them who are seeking asylum in Luxembourg. In this article, she speaks with more recent refugees – all women who wear the hijab – on their experiences in the country.

Luxembourg, with its long history of accommodating different cultures and religions, is one of the many European countries to have welcomed refugees with open arms.

Indeed, most of the Muslim refugees I have spoken with – particularly women who wear the hijab – say they have not experienced in Luxembourg the degree of racial and religious intolerance they often face in other countries.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with a few fellow Muslim refugees living here in the Grand Duchy to get a sense of how accepted they felt, particularly in the context of recent terrorist attacks that have occurred across Europe.

Haifa Ahmed, a 30-year-old woman from Iraq and mother of two

"I have been veiled and living my day-to-day life here in Luxembourg now for more than 20 months, and I do not get the sense the people here are looking at Muslim refugees in a prejudiced way.

"I came to Luxembourg after my father and uncle were killed and my son was kidnapped because of our religious affiliation (Sunni).

"It cannot be avoided, however, that some people do stare at me because of what I’m wearing. I was shopping at a mall, for example, and there was an old woman in front of me who obviously realised I was Muslim because of my hijab. She looked at me with open contempt – but, at the same time, the woman at the register smiled at me, then winked, trying to comfort me.

"What happened with the old lady did not really bother me because we obviously cannot change people’s mindsets. What we can do, though, is face this sort of reaction with confidence."

“Humanity is in everyone's hearts

Nawal Hassan, a 40-year-old woman from Iraq and mother of three

"I have not experienced any problems in Luxembourg. On the contrary, many people have smiled at me and sympathised with me. I've been to worse places, like Belgium and France, where the hijab is more of an issue.

"The only time I had a problem was when I tried to rent a house. The owner refused to rent it to me because I was wearing the hijab. She said that, if I took it off, she would rent us the house. But I refused because the hijab is a part of my faith.

"But, generally, I respect people's reaction to Muslims, and I really appreciate that we have been given refuge here, as we are persecuted in our own countries. I lost my brother in 2014, and another cousin of mine was killed in an explosion. We constantly lose our loved ones because of terrorism and sectarianism."

Ghada Adel, a 50-year-old woman from Syria

"Luxembourg is a country with a history full of wounds. During World War II, many of Luxembourg's inhabitants were forcibly displaced. It is a history whose legacy you can still see today.  

"I can see that, perhaps because of this history, Luxembourg is one of the countries that feels for us most, that understands our plight as refugees, deeply saddened by the loss of our homes, our jobs and our families, the people who have been left behind and are now under the soil.

"I cannot recall ever having been confronted here for wearing the hijab or being a Muslim, but I understand some people will always react to us. We cannot impose ourselves on anyone. Some will accept our existence and our vision of life, and others will reject us. But humanity is in everyone's hearts."

Connections

Speaking as a Muslim refugee myself, who has lived in the Grand Duchy for nearly two years now, I feel we particularly share a connection and understanding with the women of Luxembourg, who have themselves had a difficult history in their fight for equal rights and against discrimination. It is a struggle that continues. I very much respect Luxembourgish women, and I know they can understand how it might feel to be a Muslim woman wearing the hijab at this time.   

Luxembourgers have shown much sympathy for refugees and tolerance for their religion, offering programmes such as Open House, Ramadan in a Basket, and Connections, not to mention language courses and many projects to help refugees to integrate into Luxembourgish society. And for that, I think they deserve great respect.

Ennas Al Sharifi

Ennas Al Sharifi is one of two Iraqi journalists working with Iraqi photographer Ali Sahib to share their experiences and those of people like them who are seeking asylum in Luxembourg.

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