By ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
Fleeing the persecution of the Taliban, one of the world’s most radical misogynists, Martina from Afghanistan took refuge in Turkey, where she fell in love with a young Kurdish man named Cihan. Despite the challenges of the region, they got married and had a baby boy named Emircan. Emircan’s name symbolises a strong and powerful personality; perhaps they chose this name in the hope that he would be able to withstand the difficulties that would befall him.
Hoping for a better life, the couple fled from Turkey to the north of Cyprus, and then to the south, where they sought asylum in the Republic of Cyprus. After 13 days, the family was placed in a house, and dreamed of a peaceful and safe life. Now they would live in a civilised way on European soil. Martina would not have to cover her head and Cihan would be free from the pressure of his family.
However, the new life was not as easy as they hoped. Cihan missed his family in Turkey and could not adapt to his surroundings due to language barriers. This situation increased the fights between the couple, and even violence came into play. Martina, who had fled the violence of the state, now faced the violence of her husband.
One day Cihan left the house saying, “I’m going to the park with Emircan”, and never came back. Hours later, Martina got worried and called the police. The situation was also reported to the north where Cihan was arrested for entering the country illegally, and little Emircan was placed in a children’s home. Unable to reunite with his mother, Emircan was constantly crying on the phone and begging, “take me”. Martina asked journalists for help to reunite with her child. Everyone thought that mother and child should be reunited, but the law prevented it.
While the trial in the north continued, Martina’s lawyer obtained an order to prevent Emircan from being taken abroad. Cihan is expected to be deported to Turkey, but no decision has yet been made on the return of Emircan to his mother.
Our reporting was fruitless; the authorities took refuge behind the law. Together with my friend Elina Stamatiou, a journalist from the south, we appealed to the leaders one last time, asking them to make an allowance for this situation, telling them that border violations are not more important than the life of a mother and child. But our efforts were in vain.
There is only one way left for Martina to be reunited with her child: To come to the north and face the courts. One step away from freedom, she will risk her claim for asylum by crossing to the north, and she will also risk arrest. Martina will pay the penalty for entering the country illegally, she will serve a few months in prison, and then she will be reunited with Emircan. The rest is uncertain; they will either drown in the blue waters, or become victims of human traffickers.
The story of Martina and Emircan reveals how cruel the law can be. The laws that are seen as sacred, sometimes favour the powerful, not the righteous. And this story tells the tragedy of a mother and child trapped between the teeth of the law.
Source: A MOTHER AND CHILD AT A LEGAL IMPASSE: THE STORY OF MARTINA AND EMİRCAN
