Mariam Rabiea

full interview

Hello, I am Amal from Witness Change Project. Mariam, I came to know more about you to make a clear picture of you and your story to the European society. Please introduce yourself, Mariam.
I am Mariam Rabia, I am nineteen years old. I am from Egypt and I am living in Turkey in Istanbul.

Why did you leave Egypt, Mariam?
Because my father and my brother have political problems in Egypt and they have lawsuits. I wanted to leave Egypt so that I can live with my brother and we can stay together.

So, you had to leave. When did you leave Egypt?
I left Egypt a year and a half ago.

In 2021?
In 2021.

What were your feelings Mariam when you left Egypt. Did you have hope for a better life or did you feel sad because you are leaving your country? 
Yes I had great hope that our life would improve. I was sad for leaving my friends whom I am used to, but I was hoping that I would see my brother and I would live with him because I love him a lot.

You arrived at Istanbul; how long did it take you? Did you arrive through the legal route? 
I arrived through the legal route but I did not come to Istanbul immediately. I couldn’t come to Turkey directly from Egypt because of the problems that my father has. I arrived at Dubai and stayed there for four days and then had the visa from Dubai and came to Istanbul.

You came to Istanbul. Did you complete your studies? 
I completed my studies. I studied class 12 here in Istanbul. I entered university this year. I am studying the language so that I can continue in my major.

What did you manage to improve of yourself since you came to Turkey? 
I became more social and got to know many people. The people loved me and I loved them. I became able to discover my talents and to discover what I want in my life. 

Do you feel that there are more pros than cons because you are here?
Yes.

What are the positives that you found? 
I found that people do not have comments on me or criticize me. On the contrary, all of the people whom I met here in Istanbul support me to be better and to be a good person. 

You came here after a while of the end of the Corona crisis. Did this affect you while you were in Egypt or here more? 
Corona? Corona affected us in Egypt as we stopped studying as education stopped fully. We studied online from home and exams questions were leaked. No one was studying. I forgot studying. However, I passed.

You have had difficult days in Egypt as you were not psychologically comfortable because of your father and brother. How did this affect you? 
I have been in a phase of depression for a long time and I used to go to the therapist, and I still need to go to the therapist. I mean, I am trying to find someone good.

Were you always afraid for them? 
I was afraid for myself about the future. 

For yourself and your family. Here, did you feel assured, Maryam?
Not the best thing. I am not assured for the best thing because in the first and last place, my brother still has problems with his passport. He does not have an Egyptian passport. He cannot live a good life. I mean, anytime he might leave and we can not be together again.

Before this incident happened, before you and your family had to leave your country, what did you dream of? 
I was very young. I was in grade 4. When the incidents of the revolution started, I was in grade 3 and I did not understand what was happening. All my dreams were that I grow up and go to university and my brothers will be around me, The dreams that dad and mom instill in us, when we were young, as they were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, they instill in us that when girls grow up they should get married. They were instilling these things in us.

Here, did you manage to get out of this pattern?
Yes, a lot. I’m dreaming. I am dreaming of completing my studies and of working in the field that I love, and to be outstanding in my life. 

What is the field that you are dreaming of? 
I entered the field of Radio, Cinema and television because I love the field very much and I want to develop and understand more about it.

In a field of acting?
Yes.

Now, what do you hope for so that your life will be the best or to get the best version of Mariam? 
To be independent so that I can get to know myself more. I hope that my brother will be here and nothing bad or harmful happens to him, because his presence is what makes me able to live. 

Do you think that your independency is inside Turkey or out of it?
One does not have to be independent in a specific country. What matters is that S/he is independent by himself.

So you feel comfortable here?
Yes.

Well, Maryam. If we want to try to get a clearer picture for the people who would listen to your story, what would you like to add?
I’d like to tell them that they must believe that they can do everything even if they are in a place that does not support them. 

Tell me about yourself and your situation. I want you to deliver this image, the image of your reality that you are living. 
Do you mean what I experienced since I was young?

I preferred that you talk about your experience here in Turkey. 
Here in Turkey. When I came to Turkey, I was depressed and I didn’t want to live in Turkey and I want to return to Egypt. I thought Turkey is a bad country and I don’t want to go out with my friends or get to know new people or anything else. But when I came back for a while I understood that I am supposed not to give up as I am subject to it in all cases. I will not go to Egypt and I will not live there again. I have to adapt to it and live. When I did, on the contrary, many people are nice and they help me and they want me to be well and to be the best person in the world. We should do this.

Well Mariam, I really appreciate your participation and sharing your answers to my questions. If you have any questions for me about the project or the forms that you filled out, please ask me.
No thanks.

Thank you.