MELANIE MARTIN & LEAH O’SHAUGHNESSY
Foreword by
MARY ROBINSON
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“As a child of refugees who grew up in a refugee camp, I know what it feels like to have to leave for a chance at life. Are We Human? reminds us that life can change instantly when war comes to your doorstep. Nobody ever wants to be a refugee. We might look different, but we all want the same things – to be part of a family, to grow up safe and to have a home. I represent those who were given a chance at a better life in Ireland. We were welcomed with open arms. These stories remind us that compassion and community integration are key. This book gives a voice to those seeking safety for many reasons and it shines a light on the Irish people who have welcomed them with open arms.”
Zak Moradi, a Kurdish, Irish hurler who plays for Leitrim
“Are we Human? is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. Every story was gut wrenching, reminding me that all people deserve to live a good life, a life free from war, hurt, harm and hunger! The stories took me around the world and taught me about what is happening in places I only get to see on social media. They reminded me that providing people with refuge is essential. This book reminds us that we should always lead with kindness, everyone deserves to live in peace. Thank you to those who were brave enough to share their story – you will live in my heart forever!”
Katriona O'Sullivan, author of Poor
“A powerful and timely work. Are we Human? gives voice to those often silenced by war, borders and bureaucracy, while reminding us of our collective responsibility to stand up for human rights.”
James Geoghegan, Lord
Mayor of Dublin
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“Everyone has a story, from Ballyboden to Ballyhaunis to Beirut to Bogota. The more we learn the story behind the human, the more we can have empathy and realise we are all the same at the end of the day. This book tells those stories and does so beautifully.”
Michael Darragh Macauley, Chief Executive Officer, Sanctuary Runners
“Are We Human? opened my eyes, it is humbling, inspiring and uplifting. In my view, it is a brilliant documentation of the resilience and endless potential of the human spirit. Every person living in Ireland should read this book.”
Dara Connolly, Chief Executive Officer, Common Purpose Ireland
“This important and timely book should serve as a vital reminder of our shared humanity. As we witness an ominous rise in support for the politics of hate and division across Europe and the world, we can take heart from these stories of kindness, compassion and inclusivity. While far-right voices may shout loudly, the quiet untold story is of the many communities that have welcomed new arrivals and shown immense compassion towards those seeking refuge from persecution and war. The spirit of inclusivity will prevail.”
Ivana
Bacik, TD and Leader of the Labour Party
“In this remarkable book, we read the stories of people who have come to live in Ireland from troubled countries.We Irish pride ourselves on being welcoming, especially to those who are in need. In our own history, many of our ancestors had to leave for the very same reason that people have come here – poverty, the threat of violence and lack of opportunity to live as full a life as possible.
People who are against immigration ignore one very important fact: the vast majority of immigrants bring a huge amount to the countries they emigrate to. They bring new cultures and ways of thinking that energise communities. They also make a major economic contribution and often do important jobs that Irish people are less inclined to do. We should welcome them with open arms.
We are all the one species, descended from people who evolved on the plains of Africa at least 200,000 years ago. We are over 99% identical in our DNA and any differences between us are tiny. It took an awful lot of evolution to get to us, and we should rejoice in that shared humanity. We all want the same thing – to love and be loved.
This book is a timely reminder of the need to stand up to hatred, aggression and racism and should be essential reading for all in Ireland. We must unite behind people who have come here because of suffering and support them. ”
Professor Luke O'Neill, Trinity College, Dublin
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Khalid is a proud father to Ali and Sara. He holds a master’s in Physics and has studied multimedia. He is an entrepreneur and successfully ran his own family business in Gaza, along with his wife, Ashwak.
KHALID
I’M STRUGGLING TO ACCEPT WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
EACH DAY IS FILLED WITH NIGHTMARES, CONSUMED BY THOUGHTS OF HER.
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I am Khalid. I am 31 years old. I was born in Belfast, while my father was studying there. My father is a Professor of Physics and the Dean of the Faculty of Science at Al Aqsa University. In Belfast, he completed his master’s and PhD in Physics at Queen’s University.
When I was 8, my family moved back to Gaza, our hometown, where I shared life with my three brothers. Life in Gaza has been far from easy. Over the past 15 years, I have lived through five wars, not to mention numerous other hardships. Out of my 31 years, Gaza has been under siege for nearly 17. Every basic human right in Gaza was a challenge. Choosing a career, finding a job, deciding to get married or making any significant life decision was incredibly difficult.
After finishing high school, I studied physics like my father – a subject I am passionate about – and completed my master’s degree. In 2018, I married my lovely wife, Ashwak, who was an engineer with a master’s degree in Engineering Project Management. We went on to have two adorable children, Ali, now 4, and Sara, 18 months.
My story may seem unbelievable, but I will try to tell it.
In 2017, getting engaged was a significant achievement. Unlike many other places, in Gaza, you have to have a job to support your family before getting married. During my engagement to Ashwak, I received a scholarship to study at Glasgow University. Of my generation in Gaza, about 95% of people know little about the world outside. They have never had the chance to meet new people or travel. The prospect of going to Scotland and experiencing life beyond the borders of Gaza was thrilling. However, despite being ready to accept the scholarship, the strict border control meant that I missed out on this opportunity. I had been on the list to leave for a year, but the Israeli authorities would not allow me to go.
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My wife Ashwak and I had a wonderful life together. Marrying her was a dream come true. I have a very close relationship with her family; they are like my own. Our fathers are close friends. We got married a year and a half after we started dating, and it was the best day of my life.
I worked in many areas and had big dreams, as did my wife. She meant the world to me and I loved her more than anything. In 2021, I started a business with my friend Refaat, designing websites and managing projects. We worked
Khalid’s family: Ashwak, Ali and Sara
with clients in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. We used our portfolio to secure online work, because finding a job in our field in Gaza was impossible. Unemployment there is over 50%.
Refaat is more like a brother to me; we share everything. We even had our children at the same time (two each). I am from Khan Younis in the south, but when I got married, I moved to Gaza City in the north. Whenever I visited my hometown and needed anything, I could go to Refaat’s home and walk straight in, as if it was my own home. Such was our bond.
In 2021, my wife and I ventured into the food industry together. We hoped to make our business a success and ultimately, leave Gaza to start a new life in Ireland. As I was born in Belfast, I qualified for Irish citizenship. Our business was our greatest achievement. We did everything to ensure its success, from perfecting our products to the branding and packaging. We sold everything we had to start the business and borrowed money from family and friends. We initially worked from home, creating recipes. After three months, we rented a place and started producing various foods like hummus. I worked 20 hours a day, handling everything from design to operating the machines.
One of the biggest challenges in Gaza is sourcing equipment. Gaza is a very small place, with about two and a half million people living in an area roughly the size of Dublin. Israel controls the border and all imports, making it difficult to bring anything in. I had to modify what we already had, but we managed to distribute our products to markets.
My wife sold all her jewellery and put everything into the business. Unfortunately, in 2021, another war broke out and we lost electricity. Without electricity –controlled entirely by Israel – the food would perish and we couldn’t afford a generator. We started losing produce daily and eventually lost everything. The loss was devastating. My wife tried to reassure me, saying we could start the same business in Ireland. I was depressed for a long time. Business failure was a turning point in our lives.
At the time I married, I was also running a YouTube channel with a friend; it had 5,500 subscribers. Some videos went viral and I made about US$4,000, which had helped me to get married. When the business failed, I had to search for work elsewhere. I never wanted to leave my family in Gaza, but I knew I had to provide for them. When I travelled to Turkey, people couldn’t believe it, because it’s so hard to get out of Gaza. It was only because I have an Irish
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“INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.”
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR
Are We Human? captures the stories of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants and also highlights the compassion of Irish strangers who selflessly help those in need. War, displacement and violence are not choices that people make – they are tragedies that happen to innocent people. This book invites the reader to pause and reflect on the value of every human life regardless of borders and aims to foster empathy, understanding and social justice through the powerful personal stories of the brave contributors.
CHARITY PARTNERS
A €2 donation will be made to the Sanctuary Runners for every book sold. Sanctuary Runners is a solidarity-throughsport charity that uses running, jogging and walking to bring together asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and Irish residents.
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Authors Melanie Martin and Leah O’ Shaughnessy both work as second-level teachers. They co-authored Resilience and Me and are passionate about helping others through education, activism and advocacy.