The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: Thomas Hieber
Date: 01.11.2011
Category: Diasporas, Media and Communications, World Faiths
The sun was shining brightly as I stepped out of Athens ‘Evangelismos’ metro station on my way to the Pakistan consulate which is located in the very center of the Greek capital, just across from the German consulate. As I was walking up the road, my eyes caught sight of a group of five young men who looked like people from Pakistan, perhaps in their twenties, sitting on the pavement. A little further up the road, I could see scores of other young men waiting in front of a tall grey office building. This must be the place I was looking for. I had read articles and stories about the large crowds in front of the Pakistani consulate on the internet. Finally I had the chance to see for myself and I wanted to hear their stories of how they came to Greece.
As I approached the group of five men I was greeted with friendly nods. Normally no tourist in Athens would bother to talk to them so any change in their daily routine was welcomed. Every morning from seven thirty to about twelve thirty they would come to this place. They and all the others up the road would wait and see if they would be called in that day for an interview or at least to be able to present their papers to the guard who was manning the iron gate. All of them needed a new passport and a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis but only around 20-25 people each day would be called in I was told. Some days up to one thousand would come to this place as this is the only place in Greece where nationals from Pakistan can get their problems sorted out. So the hopes were not very high that morning as I talked to them.
The stories they tell me are all similar. Agents from Pakistan would visit the villages to recruit those willing to go overseas. To raise money for the journey families had to sell land or borrow money from other relatives. The mode of transport would frequently change from walking, riding donkeys, or using a car or train till they arrive at the border of Iran.
“We were then handed over to the Iranian agent, who made us walk and ride through the mountainous terrain and passed us on to the Turkish agent. Again we walked in the night through the mountains and rested in the morning. Eventually, after travelling for two months, we were delivered to the Greek agent, who took money and left us to fend for ourselves. Once you are in Greece, your own people will take care of you that is what we were told by the agent.”
It is a hopeless situation for many of these young, uneducated men from the rural areas of Pakistan. Greedy agents in Pakistan and other places are to blame for the situation in Greece who exploit and lure them to Europe with false hopes. Those willing to immigrate were told that Europe is good for work but now they experience scores of problems All of them had thrown away their papers and most had spent between 6 -7.000 Euros, some up to 10.000 Euro for the journey. If they are lucky they can share a room with five to eight people for the cost of 250 Euro per month – without bathroom or toilet. Many others who are less fortunate have to spend the night somewhere outside in one of the many parks or in other roofed places to get at least some shelter.
Meanwhile a few more had gathered around us. I told them that I was sorry for the hardships they had to endure but there was little I could do right now apart from praying. They were open to my suggestion and so I prayed for them, their families back home and their situation in Greece. All of them listened as I asked God to intervene in their situation and to show them the next steps. Before I left I gave one of them a copy of the story of Jesus Christ in their mother tongue. I am sure that DVD will be watched by more than just the few I had met that morning by the road side in Athens.
Later that day I had a meeting with ‘President Victor’ as he was called, the chairman of the Sikh Gurdwara in Athens. His story about the 12-15 000 Punjabis in Greece is similar to what I had heard earlier. As one of the first irregular immigrants to Greece in 1973 he has a fairly accurate picture of the current situation. Now that he has proper papers he is not afraid to explain the state of the Punjabi community to me of which apparently 70-80 % are irregulars. “Most of them are uneducated and poor and that is one of the reasons why the agents in India can tell them anything”, he explains. “Many ask for asylum in Athens but the authorities are unpredictable in how they handle these cases. Sometimes it would take a few weeks or months and at other times it could take years”. When I asked him why this is not reported back to the people in the Punjab he said: " A few tell at home ‘oh it worked!’ and a few tell ‘stay at home!’ so they don’t know what to do and come! The uneducated don’t know how to judge such situation and continue their journey to the ‘promised lands’ of Europe.” He further explained, “I can’t promise them papers but I give them some work at the Gurdwara and free food which is more that many get on the streets of Athens.”
It is difficult to get accurate numbers of all the South Asian Diaspora groups that are in Greece these days but they certainly number more than 130 000 altogether of which the Pakistanis are the largest with about 100 000 followed by the Indian and the Bangladeshi communities.
The latter are seen on the streets of Athens and Piraeus selling flowers, fruits, small electronic items or cheap toys from China. The South Asian Diaspora is just one group of many that congregate in Athens. The total numbers of refugees and irregulars in Athens are likely to come up to at least 500 000 or more! In some parts of the city one hardly sees a Greek person and in some public squares there are more refugees and immigrants than tourists and locals. The Greek government is unable to cope with the influx of these people and there is hardly any help from the public authorities.
Is there any hope and a future for them in Europe? Can they partake in Europe’s economy and find work to support their families back home? To be honest I do not have a satisfying answer. The current trend in Greece is disturbing. A recent survey shows that 45 percent of all Greeks are against immigrants. This resentment is on the rise because of the serious economic crisis in the country. Recently I read in an article that extreme nationalistic groups are using the situation for their purposes. They create even more fear in certain inner-city neighborhoods through violence and racial attacks on the immigrants.
While the problems in these immigrant neighborhoods are many, violence does nothing to solve them. Many refugees face daily threats at the hands of these right-wing groups.
Though the situation for the South Asian Diaspora immigrants looks bleak, God is using these circumstances to draw people to himself. I was able to meet two small groups of believers from Pakistan and India and had fellowship with them. In spite of the challenges they meet for worship, prayer, mutual encouragement and fellowship. A few expatriate workers give them support and help in practical ways. Some have come to faith in Jesus Christ while struggling to survive in Athens.
A group of individuals and a church have plans to open a help center for the South Asian immigrants in the Piraeus area but there are some details that need to be worked out first. Would you pray with me that God will use the situation of these desperate people and draw many to himself, also that the Church in Greece would take up the challenge to love their neighbors from South Asia in practical ways? Please pray, that this help center will be established so that many can find hope, peace and a reason to live.
There is much that needs to be done and we need more people who will pray and are willing to go and share the message of hope, love and forgiveness with the South Asian immigrants and refugees in our European cities.
Keywords: Diaspora, South Asians in Europe, World Faiths, Refugees, Asylum Seeker
Views: 4237
Comments: 16
Recommendations: 4
Conversation Post Comment
United States
Prayer for these people is definitely something that I can do. I will also pray that any Christians who come into contact with these immigrants will feel the weight of conviction to help these people that they must see suffering on a daily basis and choose not to or are unable to help these people. The idea that they are suffering more than just from lack of physical needs being met because there are people who choose to act out hate crimes against them is appaling. It would seem that the people would have more compassion for a group of people that had been misled into leaving their home community and country and most likely do not have much contact with their families. These people have been taken advantage of and need to receive help from Christians around the world so that they can achieve the ability to provide for themselves and their families.
04.12.2012
Germany
@ Adnahsar:
Thanks for your comment. You are right that these people need help from the Christian community world wide and thanks for your prayers. I am sure they will make a difference in the long run.
06.12.2012
United States
Although probably not the main point of this article, the impact that the author had in the lives of the diaspora Pakistanis is remarkable, and should be an example for Christians of all nationalities. Simply by recognizing the needs of this group of men and offering to pray, the author not only brought hope to these men, but also brought their plight to the attention of others. We can also do this wherever we are. By opening up to others and showing Christian love to our brothers and sisters in Christ, we too can impact the lives of others. This is also an opportunity for us to witness to diasporas and allow the love of Christ to show in our actions, not just our words.
23.11.2012
Germany
@ dg8074:
thanks DG for your kind words. You are right that we have great opportunities to minister to people from Diaspora communities in Europe.You also picked up my intentions very well to be a voice for those that cannot speak for themselfs.
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed." Proverbs 31,9
God used these articles and some of my writings to stir up people and organizations to look out for the Pakistanis in Greece. One organizations sent two short term teams this year to Athens to minister to the Pakistanis and to help the churches down their. Two groups donated money so that we could buy Urdu NT’s and SD cards for their mobile phones with the Bible on them and some evangelistic films.
I hope it can be a model for others to adopt and to see that networking, prayer and outreach is being done amongst some of the least reached groups in our world
24.11.2012
United States
@ ThomasHieber:
I think this is a great opportunity that you have picked up on, and I appreciate your response. I hope it will serve as great inspiration for others to respond to the diaspora community they come into contact with, instead of ignoring them as poor, beaten down, travelers who are ignored by everyone but the occasional “Good Samaritan.” Not only are we showing Christian love, we also are presented with opportunities to share the Gospel. By first allowing the Spirit to shine through us, we show ourselves as approachable and caring. Then people are more open to hearing what we have to say. You are doing great work for the kingdom. Thanks for what you do, and keep up the good work!!
24.11.2012
United States
Few things get me as angry as hearing how the greedy steal from the poor and uneducated who are just trying to make their lives better. It seems to me that it would take a lot of pressure off the Greek economy just to send the ones back who want to go back, especially if there are no real prospects for jobs. But that does not solve the problem that the men have given everything they own just to get there to begin with. This is indeed a difficult situation that won’t stop until the populace is informed that these are just crooks and that there are no jobs awaiting them in Europe.
04.11.2011
Germany
@ gwu_stevens:
Thanks for your comments.
You are right that it would make sense to send those back that are willing to go with the message:’ don’t follow those greedy people and their promises!’ but the situation is not that easy. I asked the same questions to one of the leaders in the South Asian community and he responded: ’ Some say it worked and others say stay home - so the people in the villages don’t know what to do’.
It seems that desperation(floods in Pakistans, fightings with Al Qaida) and lack of support from their own governments are so strong that they grasp any opportunity to get out just to find themselves in a greater mess!
Pray that the governments in the EU will find a consensus not to close their borders but to be willing to thelp these people and to live up to the values that they want to promote ( human rights) This is really an issue here in the EU that the mobile border control force in Europe ( Frontex) is a ’human hunting agency’ and does everything to prevent immigrants from entering the EU ( 2000 people drowend this year in the Mediterainian Sea alone)
The UNHCR and their resettlement program is a good way of dealing with the streams of the refugees but sadly the EU is not willing to cooperate. Last year the majority of people who could benefit from the resettlement program went to the US, Canada and Australia and only less then 1 % came to the EU!
We are asked to pray for our governments and that is what we need to do so that there will be a change of mind
07.11.2011
United States
@ ThomasHieber:
My comment seemed like an oversimplification of the problem, as if to say they could all be shipped right back; that was not my intent. But the idea that Greece will only see 20-30 of these people each day when thousands are waiting, it would seem to be in Greece’s best interest to make an effort to work with more of them to get some of those who want out, back to their home country.
But I think you nailed down the main point: the governments of the world are impotent on the issue due to ignorance and a lack of compassion. I am not usually one to push Christian ethics on a secular society, but for Christians to ignore the issues of the world’s refugees and displaced peoples (in Greece or anywhere else) is down-right sinful. Prayer is certainly a good starting point.
07.11.2011
United States
@ gwu_stevens:
To steal from the poor is the lowest of all things in my mind. This really sucks and you are right fixing it is not going to simple.
22.11.2011
United States
This is a sad commentary for the people of Pakistan that dwell in Greece. I plan to go to Greece in the Spring 2012, and I would like to get a first hand look at these Pakistanian people. But I will be praying for them that God would intervene on their behalf and help them in their plight. I pray that the help center will become a reality for these poor and suffering people of Pakistan that now dwell in Greece.
15.11.2011
United States
This is a sad commentary for the people of Pakistan that dwell in Greece. I plan to go to Greece in the Spring 2012, and I would like to get a first hand look at these Pakistanian people. But I will be praying for them that God would intervene on their behalf and help them in their plight. I pray that the help center will become a reality for these poor and suffering people of Pakistan that now dwell in Greece.
15.11.2011
United States
Thomas, your article was very well written and very insightful regarding the plight of Pakistani immigrants in Greece. It reminds us that there are millions of immigrants like them around the world struggling each day. Your article made me stop and think about my own personal responsibility to share the love of Christ with the immigrants I encounter in my own country. If we, like you, would take the time to listen to the stories of the immigrants around us, I believe we will find that we have a lot in common. We all know what it means to be spouses, parents, sibblings, and good neighbors. We all know what it means to have hopes and dreams of a better life for ourselves and our families. If we could only take time to approach the immigrants around us from the commonalities we share, we could very well find ourselves being God’s messengers of hope, encouragement, peace, and even the Gospel.
07.11.2011
United States
@ padre_todd:
You are absolutely right. It is easy to point your finger to that country or that state and tell them what they are doing wrong. It is quite another thing to open our eyes to those displaced and diasporas that live next to us and shop is our stores. Any discussion of dealing with immigrants starts with one’s own personal feelings and actions towards the immagrants he sees every day.
Regardless of each individual’s political feelings about immigration, if we aren’t sharing the love of Christ with everyone we meet then we are being poor stewards of the love given to us.
07.11.2011
Germany
@ padre_todd:
Thanks for your encouraging words regarding my article. You are right that God’s perspective on immigrants and refugees in our world is different then ours.I did not see these people in the same light as I do today - and not just because of my visit to Greece. I came across a ’special Bible’ which I am currently using. It is called ’ The poverty and justice Bible’ in which more than 2000 verses are high lighted.
http://www.amazon.de/Poverty-Justice-Bible-CEV-American-Society/dp/0564094536
It made me realize how from the beginning of the Bible God has a special interest in the aliens, refugees, immigrants. If we are to reflect something of the character of God we can not live the same way anymore and we cannot ignore the situation in our world today. We are also asked to speak up for those that cannot speak for themselves ( Proverbs 31: 8+9)
I pray that we will see these people with God’s eyes and as you say we can be God’s messengers and HIS agents of love to these people who are also created in God’s image and loved by HIM
08.11.2011
United States
@ ThomasHieber:
Thomas, thank you for your recommendation regarding the poverty and justice Bible. I will order a copy this week.
After reading your article, I have been more attentive in looking for opportunities to minister to immigrants. I am a pastor, and today I was at a meeting with other local pastors. There was a Latino pastor there who announced to our pastors’ group that if any church would like to become more involved in ethnic ministries that he would be glad to help. I wrote down his phone number and plan to call him in the near future. I think my church could benefit from a reminder by this pastor of our callinging to minister to the immigrants in our community. Thanks again for your article.
08.11.2011
United States
@ gwu_stevens:
gwu_stevens, you made a good point when you wrote that regardless of political feeling about immigration, Christians have a calling to be the love of Christ to immigrants. The calling of Christ does not give us the option to selectively administer God’s grace and mercy. I think back to Luke 10 and Jesus’ words to the law expert. Jesus told the man to love his neighbor. The man asked Jesus to give a definition of a neighbor. In response, Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan. If there ever was a doubt that the immigrants in our communities are our neighbors, we just need to re-read Luke 10.
08.11.2011
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