By Bradley Secker, PhotoJournalist @ GME, 08.11.2011

Abdul

            Abdul enjoys wandering the streets of Damascus until the early hours of the morning, in contrast to Baghdad where the city was under curfew from 8pm until mid morning.

            At first Abdul came to Syria in 2006 when life in Iraq was too tough for him after his legs were injured by a car bomb in Baghdad, he was simply walking to University. Since he arrived four years ago he hasn’t had any medical treatment as doctors are either too expensive or too busy to see him, as a result he now walks with a significant limp.

            In April this year Abdul returned to Iraq to visit family and friends, and this is when problems surrounding his sexuality started for him. He was staying at his uncle’s house whilst he was away for the weekend and had an ex-partner over. To their surprise, the uncle came home early and caught Abdul and his ex-partner having sex. They begged him to stay quiet, instead he told the entire family and neighbourhood of what he saw. Abdul fled back to Syria the following day from fear of being attacked or killed once word spread. He has had no contact with any family members since, which is having a severely detrimental effect on his mental wellbeing. Abdul is now worried about the safety of his family, and that someone from one of the many far-right wing militias targeting homosexuals in Iraq may come to Syria to find him.

            Abdul has been registered with the UNHCR as a refugee for two years, although he only recently told them of his sexuality and fear of homophobic attack if returned to Iraq. Previously he was afraid to tell his full story to the Syrian interviewer, and until his request to talk to a foreigner was granted, he only explained that he needed medical treatment and that his life and study were impossible in Baghdad, with constant reminders of his accident.

            Abdul used to work illegally part time as a bartender in a restaurant in a wealthy area of Damascus, but the owner let him go as business decreased. Now the only stable source of income Abdul has comes from the UNHCR, which is £1350 Syrian pounds (approximately GBP £20) per month. The money comes as a voucher by way of text message, and he can use it to buy food from a subsidised government food store. His few close friends in Syria often help him out financially, but this is not a regular occurrence.

               Abdul feels frustrated at his situation, exclaiming “I want to change my life, but I can’t.” He finds it difficult to trust other Iraqis or Syrians after he was robbed by a boyfriend of two years, who drugged Abdul and his flatmate and stole jewelry and possessions he estimates to be worth around £350,000 Syrian pounds (GBP £5,000). The robbery wasn’t reported to the Syrian authorities from fear of questions about the relationship between the two men. Abdul has also heard that Syrian authorities have stepped up the arrest and deportations of gay Iraqi men recently in and around Damascus after an agreement was supposedly signed between the two countries to return all “morally corrupt” to Iraq, this fear looms over Abdul’s head every day.

            The endless waiting may be close to an end for Abdul, as there has been news from the UNHCR that his resettlement application is being processed by the United States, and that he may be set to leave Syria within the next six to twelve months. He is excited to have the opportunity to study psychology in a new country, improve his English and find a partner to settle down with.

            Abdul would like to see Iraq become more liberal towards homosexuality over the coming years, and most of all wishes to communicate with his family again soon. He enjoys techno music and traditional Iraqi love songs, horror films and American cartoons.