Family of six who fled Syria have been forced to live in Moscow airport for seven weeks after Russian officials said they could not enter the country... and they dare not return home
- The
Ahmads decided to move to Russia after running away from ISIS - But when they arrived in Moscow they were told their visas were fake
- They have been living in Sheremetyevo Airport since September 12
- Desperate father Hassan asks how people can be so heartless
A Kurdish family fleeing the violence in Syria have spent seven weeks in a Moscow airport - after the Russians told them their visas were fakes and refused them entry.
The Ahmads believed their prayers had been answered after they got visas allowing them to move to Russia from war-torn Erbil, in Iraq.
They had made the city their home after fleeing their own country, in fear for their lives as ISIS's murderous extremists got ever closer.
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Stuck: The Ahmads had dreamed of a new life in Russia, away from ISIS, but their hopes were dashed when they arrived and were told their visas were fake - leaving them stranded in the airport
Fearful: The Russian authorities say they must return to Syria, but they believe they will be killed
Freezing: Rinas , 12, said the airport - where they slept on the hard floors for 44 days - often got very cold
But the family's hopes of a new life were dashed when they arrived in Moscow on September 12 to be told the visas were fake, and they would have to return to Syria.
However, father Hassan Ahmad believes returning means certain death, and ever since the family have been stuck in limbo, living in Sheremetyevo Airport surrounded by their belongings.
'This is transit for coming here - one hour, two hour . But for us, it is 40 days,' explained son Rinas . 'Sometimes its cold, very cold.'
The Ahmads and their four children - 12-year-old Rinas, Rozkar, nine, Lund, seven, and Lavin, three - slept on the floor for the first 44 days.
For the last six - after Mr Ahmad's wife Gulistan ended up in hospital - the government have allowed them to stay in one of the airport hotels.
Food is provided by Unicef, and a number of NGOs have started to lobby the Russian government on the family's behalf.
Desperate: Father Hassan (pictured) says the authorities are treating him 'like a terrorist'. He is a musician
Home: The family are surrounded by their belongings, and have even put up signs warning people away
But, as a lawyer attempts to untangle the mess, the family are struggling to see an end to their plight.
'How can people just watch this happen? How can people be so heartless?' the desperate father asked the BBC.
Speaking to CNN, the musician added: 'Officials at the airport treated me like a terrorist.
'Do I look like a terrorist? Is this how they treat a father surrounded by his wife and his four kids, all desperate to live a normal life?'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3295620/Family-six-fled-Syria-forced-live-Moscow-airport-seven-weeks-Russian-officials-said-not-enter-country-dare-not-return-home.html#ixzz3q1x8vRfm
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