Kaboul-Athens: The journey of an Afgan refugee pop star

I don’t know what is the first thing coming in one’s mind when listening to the following description: Young man, refugee from Afghanistan.

Maybe something similar to what used to come into my mind a few months ago and which is likely to be associated with a stereotypical perception of refugees, especially of those who are not from the civilized and conflict Syria, but from the “underdeveloped” Afghanistan.

After meeting Musawir, I realized that no stereotype can justify the story of a human being. I can not identify what it was that made me the greatest impression on Musawir: his kindness, the fact that he was a famous singer in his country, his modesty, his young age or the fact that despite what he has been through during the last year his smile and sweetness never leave his face?

I guess that when you’re used to earn $1,000 or $2,000 per night -as a pop star- and to have literally everything, it is extremely difficult by itself to lose them all-in one night- and to be chased in your own country. Let alone to cross on foot three countries in four months and to be hold as a hostage in Iran. Nevertheless, I think that in the “refugee journey” that started for Musawir about ten months ago, the most difficult thing for him was to leave behind his family and his music or -more precisely- his studies in music.

Because Musawir has not given up his music. In spite of the fact that he is a refugee and an asylum seeker in Greece for four months, in spite of the fact that he hasn’t got his own place to live or money, Musafir continues singing. But, this time he sings for refugees and gives concerts for them, for his countrymen and for all refugees, located in Athens at this moment. He has even decided to write songs for them and dedicate them his music.

The music, the cause that forced Musafir to abandon Afghanistan and seek refuge in Europe, is one of the few things Musafir requests in his new life: to continue studying music in a music school or a conservatory.

But, why was the music the cause that led Musafir to leave his homeland and his family?

Despite how unrealistic it may sounds to the citizens of the western world and civilization, for the political-religious movement of the Taliban that “operates” in Afghanistan, the music is prohibited, as well as the theater, the cinema and the television. In particular, when the music is connected with a support to the female gender, as in the case of Musafir, who shortly before leaving Afghanistan had participated in a women’s support gig, then things become even more serious. “Talibans have a problem with the music and with women”, says Musawir very simple.

With a warning note, which they left one night at his home, the Taliban ensured that Musafir will not sing again in the future and that he will leave the country immediately. As he says “no one knows exactly when they will come” and adds “the Taliban warn once, the second time they kill you.”

Sometimes I ponder and find it hard to comprehend how it is possible that somebody’s life changes so much in one night. From one moment to the other, Musawir was persecuted. At 2.00 am about ten months ago and under the exhortations of his scared mother, Musawir decided to abandon Afghanistan and look for a safe haven somewhere in Europe.

And that is how the most difficult journey of his life begun…

Today, a few months after his decision to leave his country, Musawir is in Athens. His initial desire to go to Austria was canceled by the closure of borders in FYROM. Nevertheless, he plans to chase his dreams in Greece. And he hopes that in the future he will be able to return to Afghanistan. An Afghanistan, which after 42 years of war, will hopefully be at the heart of international community’s interest and will become a safe place for all its citizens.