HIA Poland Fellowship 2015

“It Feels Like Home When I’m in Poland”
Interview with Mr. Atif Akram Khan

by Surya Karki and Maja Lepieszka

Atif Akram Khan – A Pakistani has been living in Poland from 8 years. An alumnus of University of Peshawar with MBA degree, Atif owns a bar, and is entering the export business soon. He is also a freelance translator cooperating with the Office for Foreigners and Border Guards.

Hate speech is now a hotter topic in Poland than anytime in the most recent history, specifically hate speech directed towards migrants and refugees. Considering that the Polish authorities have recently decided to take in Christian Syrian refugees, we have a key question to tackle in front of us - is the government and the Polish community prepared to offer these Syrians a smooth transition from their past into their to be present - Poland?

Migrants aren’t new in Poland, and have been part of flourishing Poland for centuries. Yet it feels like migrants who are already living in country are excluded from public debate, and are subject to increasing hate speech, stereotypical thinking and discrimination. Therefore when thinking about our task – to write about diversity, hate speech and the case of migrants – one thing came to our minds - nothing about us without us. Hence, we present you an interview with Pakistani Muslim who runs a business and has resided in Poland since 2007. We talked about his perception on hate speech and stereotypes about migrants in Poland.

Q: Why did you decide to leave Pakistan? Was it for economic reasons, and tensions near Afghanistan border?

AAK: I left Pakistan due to few reasons: I wanted to bring some changes in my life and also wanted to do something on my own for a better future but yes, one of the other reasons was living on Afghan border – very risky and full of tension.

Q: Why did you choose Poland?

AAK: Firstly, I wanted to migrate to Europe, and after a huge struggle, got a student visa to Poland. Secondly, education in Poland was cheaper than in other European countries and of a much higher standard than in South Asia.   

Q: You arrived in Poland in 2007 having no knowledge about the country. What was your first impression about Poles?

AAK: When I came to Poland I had no idea about the country, culture, weather and people but from the beginning I found Poles very kind and helpful.

Q: Have you seen many migrants on the streets of Warsaw?

AAK: No I haven’t seen much of them in Warsaw.

Q: Did you feel like an alien in here?

AAK: Yes I felt like an alien because for me it was new country. Actually everything was new: people, language, religion, and customs.

Q: Have you ever been a target of hate speech?

AAK: Yes, few times. It happened after being asked where I am from and what is my religion. Many times I’ve been called a terrorist as well.

Q: Latest research shows that 56% of Poles have anti–minority sentiment aimed at Muslims. In your opinion, what’s the reason of such a negative perception of Muslims in Poland?

AAK: I think Poles have very small experience with migrants and with people of different cultures. In my opinion they are not mentally ready to accept migrants, and especially Muslims.

Q: Do you see any solution to that? What kind of action would you recommend to our authorities or maybe just to common Poles?

AAK: I think with time it will get better. The next upcoming generation will be more tolerant and open-minded. I think Polish authorities should arrange some meetings and seminars in order to introduce us to the Polish community, to bring us near to each other, to give us
a chance to express ourselves to society that now we form part of.   

Q: What about migrants? Do you feel that they make an effort to integrate? Or maybe you find them alienating themselves and creating small communities of natives?

AAK: I think most migrants try not to integrate. They create small communities and don't make an effort to integrate with Poles and to become part of the Polish society.   

Q: Right now in Poland we have a vital debate about taking in refugees (also from Syria). Just a few weeks ago in Warsaw 30 posters hung reading: “#POLAND, I AM GOING THERE. We will swamp all of Europe with immigrants on small boats from Libya, and we will change it into hell. Islamic State, February 2015”.

Authors of posters (Euroislam.pl portal, run by an Association of Europe of the Future) claim that they wanted to trigger a discussion on the issue of immigration in Europe and the problems that it carries. Do you think that these posters meet their goal? Or maybe you find them anti-Islamic and propagandist?

AAK: I don’t think that the posters met their goals. They only brought negative thinking about Muslim migrants to Europe or particularly to Poland. I find it to be an anti-Islamic action aimed to bring hatred in the Polish people against the Muslim minority.

Q: What did you feel when you saw the poster? Neutral, upset or angry?

AAK: I got upset, considering it brings hate in people’s minds, hate against Muslims in the minds of Poles.

Q: You have lived in Poland for 8 years now. Have you noticed any changes in Poles? Are we more tolerant and open or rather more prejudiced?

AAK: After 8 years of my living in Poland, I now find Poles more tolerant and open than before. It’s a big and important change.

Q: What do you like about Poles?

AAK: Poles are intelligent and hardworking people. I like that they remember every single moment of their lives, with exact date and time even if something happened 20 years ago.

Q: What about our language? You speak polish very well. Was it hard to learn?

AAK: Polish language has been the hardest language I have ever come across in my life, though with time I now feel more confident.

Q: Do you feel more integrated with Poles now that you can communicate quite easily?

AAK: Yes of course. Language breaks many barriers.

Q: Where do you feel at home, in Poland or Pakistan, or maybe in both countries?

AAK: To be honest it feels like home when I’m in Poland, especially in Warsaw.

Q: Thank you very much for this conversation and I wish you good luck running your business.

AAK: Thank you and you are welcome.

Peeking into the conversation that we had with Atif, one could certainly say that there is a hopeful atmosphere for inclusion of minorities and several more diverse groups other than Polish nationals. But this doesn’t seem to be the case if one was to look deeper into the Atif’s words. He has had to struggle a lot during his 8 years in Poland and has yet to find his true place within the society he currently calls home. Atif’s story is one story, but is a reflection of the daily struggle that several migrant, refugees, and people of minority groups have to go through, who in the face of despair, discrimination, and exclusion from the society still find words of optimism, hope and thankfulness for their new home - Poland.

The present situation of the Poles and the Polish government suggests that there is a lot of work to be done to allow for proper welcoming of foreigners (refugees and migrants), and easy integration through provisions for language, economic and social opportunities. But prior to this, there needs to be a clear understanding that foreigners (be it refugees or migrants) are an asset to the Polish culture and economy as they bring with them their experiences and ideas worth exploring for the growth of Poland. In this respect, there cannot be a better example than Atif who owns a business and is in process of opening another, and who has created several jobs for the Polish economy.

Atif has embraced Poland as his home, and so have most other migrants and refugees, but the question that needs a sincere answer is: are Poles and the Polish government willing to help accept diversity with open arms and contribute to easy integration of the to be Polish nationals?