Mehdi, a documentary film maker from Tehran, has been at the Ferry Dusika Stadium now for two months. He’s waiting for his asylum claim to be dealt with, trying in the meantime to learn German.
When forced to leave Iran, Mehdi chose to come to Vienna as the cultural and artistic centre of Europe. His face lit up as he told us of the magnificent Viennese conservatoire and the classical music greats who originate from Vienna. “You must visit Karlsplatz” he insisted, “it’s really wonderful”.
Mehdi made the journey from Turkey, via Lesvos, through the Balkan states to Vienna before the cooperation between countries that we have witnessed existed. He recalls how, back then, police “treated us just like meat” and how they were forced to walk over 50km between countries.
He was glad to hear how conditions for refugees have improved, though concerned that his fellow Iranians might no longer be able to cross the Macedonian border.
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