Khalid did not become emotional when he spoke of his ordeal, including the torture,” says Benjamin Dix. “But he did become emotional when he spoke of his future.”
Dix is the director of PositiveNegatives, an organisation that uses literary comics to shed light on contemporary social and human rights issues, while Khalid is a “bright, engaging and enthusiastic” 24 year old currently residing in a remote municipality in Norway. He expects to be there for the next four years, before he can move freely throughout the country. “It’s a very tough environment with currently about five hours of sunlight a day. Not great for a survivor of torture,” Dix adds.
Originally from Damascus in Syria, Khalid fled after being tortured by Syrian President Assad’s security forces, but now he faces a different challenge altogether in Norway – that of adapting to life in the isolated mountains of the country’s north. “For a Syrian family, such a place would be manageable,” explains Dix, “but for a single, young male it’s very difficult. He’s haunted by his experiences and alone in remote, quiet spaces.”
khalid fled syria after being captured and tortured; he now faces a different challenge altogether
Dix interviewed Khalid at the Fredrikstad asylum centre in Norway, and the pair shared tea and food in Khalid’s room before Dix then departed for Oslo. What Khalid told him formed part of a comic that has been illustrated by London-based illustrator Lindsay Pollock, and is one of three stories each tackling a different theme: fleeing Syria (Khalid’s story); crossing the Mediterranean in a smuggler’s boat (Hasko’s story); and the potentially devastating effects of the Dublin Regulation (Mohammad’s story), which determines the EU country responsible for processing each asylum request.
The story highlights not just Khalid’s horrific treatment in a Syrian prison and his frantic departure from the country – pursued by masked men and unable to say goodbye to his family – but also his reaction to his strange new environment, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and with little to see but trees. “Khalid is an intelligent and ambitious young man who wants to work and succeed in life,” says Dix. “He’ll be an asset to Europe.”
For more information on PositiveNegatives, and for the full portfolio, visit positivenegatives.org; @PosNegOrg; facebook.com/positivenegativesorg
