Biography:
Nujeen Mustafa (Arabic: نجين مصطفى Nūjjayn Muštāfa; also transliterated Noujain Mustaffa) is a Kurdish Syrian refugee and activist with cerebral palsy. She was raised in Aleppo, Syria, and gained attention after traveling 3,500 miles (5,600 km) by wheelchair, fleeing conflict in the Syrian Civil War, before arriving and resettling in Germany. She was listed as one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2018, and her story was featured on the television show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. In 2019, she became the first disabled person to brief the United Nations Security Council and was the recipient of the Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism from Human Rights Watch. She has co-authored two books about her experiences. She resides in Wesseling, where she attends a school for those with disabilities.
Life
Mustafa was raised in Kobane, Syria, with her sisters and brother as part of a Kurdish family. Her father, who is unable to read, sold sheep and goats while her brother dug water wells. She was born with cerebral palsy and spent the majority of her life confined to her family’s fifth-floor apartment in Aleppo. Their building had no elevator, and so leaving the apartment could only be accomplished by having someone carry her to the ground floor. She later compared the situation to being under house arrest, as having a disability in Syria often meant being hidden away and facing shame, discrimination, and physical barriers.
Due to the lack of facilities to accommodate those with disabilities, Mustafa was unable to attend school while in Syria. However, she learned English from watching television, including the American soap opera Days of Our Lives. In 2014, at the age of 16, Mustafa embarked on a remarkable journey to escape the Syrian Civil War. She traveled 3,500 miles (5,600 km) from Syria to Gaziantep in Turkey, and eventually reached Germany as a refugee.
Without sufficient funds to travel as a family, her parents remained in Turkey, while Mustafa and her sister Nasrine continued their journey to Germany, where their brother was already living. Throughout the arduous trip, Mustafa relied on her wheelchair, with her sister pushing her forward. She referred to herself as a pay-as-you-go refugee, as she didn’t have enough money to pay smugglers to take her the entire way. Instead, she had to find various means of transportation each day, including taxis and trains, in addition to relying on smugglers. The overall cost of the journey amounted to approximately €6,000.
Finally, in late 2016, Mustafa was granted asylum by Germany. She settled in Wesseling and has since become an active member of her community. Despite the challenges she faces due to her disability, she remains determined to make a difference and inspire others through her advocacy work.
Mustafa’s courage and resilience have earned her international recognition as a prominent advocate for refugees and disabled individuals. Her story has captivated audiences worldwide and shed light on the plight of millions of people affected by the Syrian Civil War. By sharing her experiences and raising awareness about the struggles faced by refugees and the disabilities community, Mustafa has become a powerful voice for change.
Awards:
– Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism from Human Rights Watch