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Mohammad Imran’s journey to MI (cont.)
Photo by Sophie Poole Imran joined MIHS in late 2016 as a freshman, and has transitioned well into becoming part of the community.
“There were so many animals, eating people. So many people died in the rivers,” Imran said. From Thailand, Imran fled to Malaysia, where he was imprisoned. “In Malaysia, the police checked my passport. I had no passport, so the Malaysian police imprisoned me for one year,” Imran said. Myanmar abolished citizenship for all Rohingya Muslims in 1982, so Imran is not eligible for a Burmese passport. “We had no shower, no water for a shower. The guard would give me food once a day: one small fish and a little bit of rice,” Imran described. “There were other kids - some were older than me, some were young-
er than me, some were the same age. And so many Rohingya people.” In prison, Imran learned to speak a variety of languages. “I speak five languages fluently: Bengali, Hindi, Rohingya, and Indonesian,” Imran recalled. “I spoke no English before. I learned it all in the US.” Eventually, Imran found a way out of prison through the United Nations. “He, at 15, sought refugee status in Malaysia,” Christine Kenyon, Imran’s foster mom, said. “He had to work really hard. [It was] probably a good nine months before he was granted approval to resettle.” Imran came to America as a refugee in late 2016,
joining Mercer Island High School as a freshman. “The US government gave me a green card. I felt very, very happy,” Imran said. Ten months later, Imran has settled down happily on Mercer Island. “School is very good. I like school, I like Mercer Island students, I like everything!” Imran said. “My hobby is playing soccer. I like track. I like reading, I like to read the Harry Potter books!” “He was so excited to come back from summer,” said Aaron Tomaselli, a close friend of Imran’s. “Yeah, school is my favorite,” Imran added. Thankfully, Imran has managed to stay in touch with his mom, dad, and
three siblings, who recently moved to Bangladesh to escape the increasingly horrific conditions in Myanmar. “I call twice a week,” Imran said. “I’d like to see them after college.” However, Imran has also connected with his American family. “I love my foster mom and brother very much,” he said. The feeling is mutual. “He is absolutely friendly, kind, [and] generous,” Kenyon said. “He has a really strong character. He’s optimistic. And he also has a ton of resilience. He’s an incredibly resilient kid, and has to be resilient all the time. Even now, even though he’s safe now. He worries for his family.”
Over the summer, violence in Myanmar surged dramatically, causing over half a million people to flee Myanmar for Bangladesh since late August. “The situation seems a textbook example of ethnic cleansing,” said Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the United Nations’ high commissioner for human rights, as reported by The New York Times. Ethnic cleansing refers to the mass expulsion or murder of unwanted ethnic or religious groups in a society. Some reports have directly attributed the murder of Rohingya people to Myanmar’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. “Her policies are killing Rohingya people,” Imran said. In spite of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi’s global reputation as an inspirational champion for the people, the leader has denied that there is a problem. “She’s lying,” Imran asserted. Many would agree with him. Across the globe, people are calling on Aung San Suu Kyi to take action, including fellow Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, and singer-activist Bob Geldof. The cities of Oxford and Glasgow have retracted honors previously awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi until she provides protection her people and fulfills her responsibility to Rohingya Muslims as their nation’s leader.
Imran believes deeply in the importance of tolerance and acceptance for all. On Sunday, September 24, he attended a protest in Portland, Oregon, organized by Oregon United for Rohingya, which called for an end to the genocide. “[I support] no genocide: Hindu, Christian, Muslim, any religion. No genocide in all the world,” Imran said. “Maybe the US government can talk to the police about not killing Rohingya people. I’d like to help the many refugees in Burma. Rohingya people move to Bangladesh, and have no food or money. I’d like to help get money to give.” “Please support the Rohingya people,” Imran emphasized. Students interested in getting involved are encouraged to contact the following organizations: the United Nations, Peace Insight, Refugees Northwest, Oregon United for Rohingya, BMSA Network, and Seattle Burma Roundtable. “Forced to Flee” by Erika Berg, a local author, also details options for action. Students are also welcome to participate in a write-in, organized by the Journalism class. The write-in is on October 26. Participants will be reaching out to senators, the US Secretary of State, and the US ambassador to Myanmar, asking them to help stop the ethnic cleansing.
‘Greenlake Walker’ causes local controversy Izzi Mancuso and Isabella Pangallo staff writer
A man who the public dubbed “The Greenlake Walker” recently gained attention when Mercer Islanders and other local residents discovered his website, a blog with provocative pictures of children, specifically girls. Island residents angered by the surreptitious posting of these photos to the Internet have voiced their concerns with the Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) and have raised concerns within the community. According to MIPD Officer Ryan Parr, the department receives anywhere from 5-20 complaint calls a day about the blog. Most are from parents who want their child’s picture taken off
the blog. Others seek information on how to prevent non-consensual pictures being taken and posted. The Greenlake Walker has not technically broken any laws, and cannot be charged with any crimes. However, because of the commotion surrounding his website, the police are in contact with him and his website is being monitored. “It makes me feel kind of violated that he’s been on Mercer Island taking [these] pictures. I don’t think you should be allowed to take pictures of people, [especially] teenagers,” an anonymous sophomore girl said. According to Officer Parr, the only way for a photo to be removed from the website is to contact The Greenlake Walker and request it be taken down. His email and other contact information is
on the blog, but MIPD recommend that citizens use an alternate email account to contact him. He may not comply, but has previously agreed to consider taking down a few posts when asked by concerned parents. According to MIPD, if he denies a request, one can take legal action or file a class action suit. The pictures that sparked the most controversy were from this year’s Summer Celebration Parade, an event that takes place in July, and from the recent Homecoming Parade. Members of Mercer Island High School’s cheerleading and drill teams were featured on both posts, as well as other girls and boys both in the parade and attending the event. Parr verified that the MIPD is working with the Seattle Police Depart-
ment, the Mercer Island School District school, and other Mercer Island organizations to ensure the maximum safety of local citizens, especially youth. To avoid being featured on any website, MIPD suggests one should not take pictures for, or with, an unknown subject. If someone is concerned with their privacy, they
should contact MIPD. “[We have] asked him for voluntary compliance, and in some cases, he has willingly taken down some photographs, either that he thought might be controversial, or hurtful, or that parents have specifically requested they be removed. And he’s been willing to consider [some of] those photographs being taken
Cartoonist:Teddy Fischer
down,” Parr said. The Greenlake Walker’s blog has served to raise awareness on Mercer Island and in other local communities about the risk to privacy many citizens face in a world increasingly dominated by Internet. Staying informed of the dangers of social media serves to prevent similar breaches of privacy from occurring in the future.