Translation by Yusra Ahmed
(Zaman Al Wasl)- Living in Denmark as a refugee is not easy due to hard rules and shortage of support and fund allocated to refugees, that make refugees consider this country as a crossing route to Sweden and Finland.
Refugees who lived in Denmark feel like they are in a military camp, all they feel is loneliness, nostalgia an regret, according to Zaki Abbara, a refugee from Homs.
Abbara has been in Denmark for three years living in the island of Chiland told Zaman Al Wasl that no particular interest in Ramadan in Denmark amid shortage of support allocated for refugees for food, as it does not exceed €100, which hardly cover their needs.
Abbara mentioned that suffering in Ramadan increases with long hours of fasting which reach to 20 hours. He mentioned that refugees who live in big cities go to Mosques where they can have Iftar for free from the group Iftar if they do not have families, then they pray taraweeh and start to get ready for Sohoor.
However, refugees who live in countryside used to fast and have Iftar and all religious practices in their homes because there is not mosques in villages, and they try to create the atmosphere of Ramadan by mutual invitations for Iftar and sohoor.
Some restaurants have changed their opening hours to be suitable for Iftar and Sohoor. “I noticed that a Lebanese restaurant has allocated a hall for fasting people with open buffet for 100-150 Krone, and provide date, milk and juice besides dishes of rice and meat”, Abbara detailed.
In general, Syrian refugees in Denmark miss the atmosphere of Denmark they used to have in their countries, especially the political situation and the Right-winged government which is hard toward refugees and does not want more of them, although Danish people understand the needs of refugees and respect their freedom and their religious practices.
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