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‘Looking for peace’: Reported discrimination sends Syrian refugees from Scottdale

By Alyssa Choiniere achoiniere@heraldstandard.Com 8 min read
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Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard

Haya, 10, and her grandmother Kouhaila Al-Attrach attend a Sunday service at the Mennonite Church in Scottdale. Kouhaila Al-Attrach, a skilled seamstress, became close with members after she joined their Comfort Zone Sewing Circle, making schoolbags for children in need, then started attending the church with her granddaughter Haya.

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Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard

Arlene Miller (left) a member of the Mennonite church, and Alya El-Sharity leave the social security office in Scottdale. Members of the Mennonite Church and other people in the community helped the family with transportation while they attempted to settle in.

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Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard

Kouhaila Al-Attrach, a skilled seamstress, became close with members of the Mennonite Church after she joined their Comfort Zone Sewing Circle, making schoolbags for children in need, then started attending the church with her granddaughter Haya.

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Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard

Roudaina (Alya) El-Sharity, became anxious as the families savings began to run out as she waited for her immigration status and work permit to be able to work and sustain her family. Alya, along with her mother and daughter, sought asylum in the U.S. after fleeing religious persecution in Syria.

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Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard

10-year-old Haya prepares for a long day running errands with her mother Alya, who after a year of waiting received her work permit in the mail and an appointment at the Social Security Office and other government offices.

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Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard

10-year-old Haya proudly displays her Barbie Dream House, a Christmas gift from members of the Scottdale Mennonite Church. Haya came to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia after her family fled religious persecution in Syria. She said aside from their financial struggles she likes living in America and has dreams of attending Harvard one day.

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Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard

10-year-old Haya interacts with Sunday school classmates at the Scottdale Mennonite Church. Haya said her favorite part about church is the singing and getting to see her friends during Sunday school.

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Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard

Kouhaila Al-Attrach, serves a Syrian dessert for their guests at their apartment in Scottdale. Kouhaila Al-Attrach, a skilled seamstress, became close with members of the Mennonite Church after she joined their Comfort Zone Sewing Circle, making schoolbags for children in need, then started attending the church with her granddaughter Haya.

Thalia Juarez

A family has made the long journey from Saudi Arabia fleeing religious persecution in Syria seeking asylum in the U.S. This video documentary by visual journalist Thalia Juarez looks at some of the hardships and discrimination the family has faced during their resettlement process. 

The American dream was out of reach for Syrian refugees who fled terrorism and religious persecution to settle in Scottdale. Discrimination stonewalled them from building a new life, they said.

“We are looking for peace,” said Kouhaila Al-Attrach.

Kouhailia, her daughter, Roudaina (Alya) El-Sharity and granddaughter Haya Amer spoke to the Herald-Standard multiple times during the spring and summer, speaking optimistically about their plans for local resettlement. In the final interview, Alya spoke briefly about plans to return to the Middle East, saying she was unable to find work because of discrimination.

“All the history of the United States said that America was like a very big mom that can hold all the kids and tell them, ‘Sit on my lap,'” Alya said in her first interview. “So I don’t think this history will be changed later on.”

Her opinion changed after she was denied employment multiple times and reported that bullying against her daughter escalated.

“(America) had a better representation out in the world than it did right here,” said Elder Dave Garber of Scottdale Mennonite Church. Garber, along with church members and others, assisted the family in attempts to resettle.

Alya moved to Damascus May 3. Kouhailia and Haya joined her June 11.

Fleeing religious persecution

In 1981, Alya’s father and uncle were killed by the Muslim Brotherhood, the first event in a chain of religious-based violence that caused the family to flee to a country that boasts of religious freedom.

“The earth is mixed up with El-Sharity blood,” Kouhaila said.

In 2015, an explosion killed an entire El-Sharity family, and ISIS members took over the family property.

“They died, all of them,” Kouhaila said. “There were pieces. Eight people. Arm here. Head there. Legs over there. It’s awful. We are running so far from terrorists, especially for this little girl,” she said, referring to Haya.

Alya sent her mother and daughter to America at that time as she prepared applications to resettle with them. Mother and daughter were separated for nine months.

“She’s carrying her daughter, like a bird on her back, crossing the ocean to put her in a warm nest,” Kouhaila said.

The waiting game

Haya, who turned 11 in July, said she struggled without her mother as Alya waited for documentation to live in the U.S. Haya occupied herself with school and homework during the day.

“But the only time that I’m really really hurt is usually at night,” she said in happy, sing-song tones. “Because that’s the chance that I get to stuff my pillow in my face without my grandmother hearing.”

But the tears, of course, did not go undiscovered by her grandma.

“When I noticed that, I tried to put her in my bed, and hold her and sleep beside her. Sometimes she’d feel cold. I’d put my hand under her armpit and warm her up until she fell asleep,” she said. “It was a little bit of a hard time. I don’t like to talk about it because we got through a very hard time.”

Alya applied for temporary protective status and rejoined her mother and daughter. But the family’s savings was running out as she waited about eight months for a social security card, allowing her to seek employment. She said she struggled with the wait, unable to provide for her family or even drive. The family was dependent on Alya, but they were forced to rely on the generosity of others.

“We are taking their time. We are taking their power. And it’s very embarrassing,” Kouhailia said.

“You have not heard us complaining about it, have you?” Garber said with a laugh.

”No one wants a Syrian woman”

“Maybe when I will be merging into the society, I will see if they can accept us or maybe they will refuse us,” Alya said during her first interview. “This is dependent on how you can merge, you melt with this spot.”

Alya received a social security card in March allowing her to apply for work. She said she was willing to work as a secretary or dental assistant, even though she had worked more than two decades as a dentist. She said three offices denied her employment, saying they did not want to hire a Syrian. Although her family belongs to a religious minority, who attended Catholic schools in the Middle East and became very involved in the Mennonite church, she said she was labeled as a Muslim. She said one employer told her directly why he would not hire her.

“He told me, ‘Honestly, I’m going to tell you something that nobody is going to tell you. We hate Muslims a lot here in America so you should accept that.’ And I told him ‘I am not responsible for who I was born, but I am responsible for how I act. You cannot judge me for what I was born,'” she said. “It’s not fair, but unfortunately, this is his mind.”

Alya said she understands fully why the vetting process can be arduous. She said the country must protect its citizens from potentially dangerous people coming into the country, or those entering the country illegally. But she did not expect to be rebuffed from working in the country simply because of where she was born.

“I feel like discrimination in our community is undercutting our efforts as a church,” said Garber, who the family called their “walking angel.”

”I just don’t belong anywhere”

Haya, who attended Southmoreland Elementary School, said she experienced nearly constant bullying at school. She said she went to the principal asking for help. He responded by giving her “a homework assignment” asking for ways he could solve the problem, she said.

“I was just tired of these people just bullying me, and being mean to me, and making me feel like I just don’t belong anywhere,” she said.

The school declined comment.

Haya said she would remind herself that her bullies were only hurting themselves with their actions. But the violence escalated. One day, her coat was stolen. Another day, a child pushed her down a slope, causing a bruise to her knee.

Sometimes she would share about cultural differences, such as wearing fancy clothes for festivities and holidays.

“Everyone got so surprised about it and they thought ‘Wow that girl came from a crazy country. Maybe we should pick on her and try to get rid of her,'” she said.

Garber said he attempted to support Haya by meeting with the principal.

“I’ve been to the school, probably four or five times. They’re probably getting to know me pretty well,” he said.

In March, he submitted a letter recording instances of bullying and wrote of filing a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if there were not “immediate steps to change the school culture and try to help the parents influence their children against discrimination.”

“We can go over there and talk, but spoken words blow away,” he said.

The soft-spoken man crumbled speaking about the family’s plans to move.

“It’s just because I cared so much. It just seemed so unfortunate to have this little girl face so much discrimination in school,” he said, sitting in a youth room in the church.

A sign in front of the church welcomes the community in many languages including Arabic. It says “No matter where you’re from, we’re glad you’re our neighbor.”

“As Mennonites, we know our ancestors immigrated here. It’s in our DNA to help the underdogs in the community,” he said.

Rebuilding again

Kouhaila returned to Damascus in May to prepare the way for Alya and Haya to join her. After Haya finished the school year and Alya finalized their travel documents, they moved to Damascus. Alya found space for her dental practice, which she is remodeling with plans to open soon. Garber said he is keeping in touch with the family online. He said he hopes the war stays far from the family, and anticipated Haya may return to the U.S. for college.

“She is a star anywhere she goes,” Garber said.

Haya decided she wanted to attend Harvard University after learning that a degree from the prestigious university would grant a person respect. She referenced a book and movie, “Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story” which tells the story of a girl who graduated from the university despite her rough upbringing.

“Nothing is impossible as long as you’re with God. As long as you have trust in yourself and believe, anything can happen,” she said a few weeks before returning to Syria.

“It just depends where the path leads me. Everyone is on a specific path, and we never know where it’s going to lead us.”

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