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INTERVIEW WITH HATICE
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Riya: What is your name and date of birth?
Hatice: My name is Hatice. And my birthdate is the 23rd of February, 2000.
Riya: Where were you born and where do you currently live?
Hatice: I was born in Konya in Turkey. And I live in Helsinki.
Riya: What are some of the earliest memories of home for you? How old were you when you moved and what are those memories like – of you being back home…the most memorable events in Turkey?
Hatice: Oh you mean like coming here from Turkey? I was sixteen years old at the time and…should I tell my story from the beginning?
Riya: Go ahead.
Hatice: So I was sixteen years old [at] that time and it was in June 2016 and I came here by myself, like without my parents and my sister had a wedding in Norway, so we were planning to go to her wedding actually. And, like we stayed here and after maybe one month later the coup attempt happened in Turkey in July of 2016. And we couldn’t go back to Turkey from that day.
There’s a moment…an Islamic movement and there’s a preacher…an Islamic preacher whose name is...and we are the first participants of that movement for many years – maybe more than twenty years. And [the] Turkish government made that coup attempt in 2016 and they showed it as the movement participants made it, so after the coup attempt, they took maybe more than 500,000 people into the jail for no reason. And that’s why we couldn’t go back to Turkey. Like if you go back to Turkey right now, we will be probably go to jail.
Riya: If you don’t mind explaining, what exactly is the coup attempt? What happened? What is it?
Hatice: It’s like – in Turkey in many cities, there were so many like…how can I say? It was like a war, but not war at the same time. There were so many armies…I don’t know how to explain…like more than maybe 250 persons died that day. And, like all people say – that like this movement people did that, but in fact it’s not like that. So, like Turkish government show that these people did that, but we didn’t do the coup attempt.
Riya: And you mentioned that you moved from Turkey alone?
Hatice: Yeah.
Riya: So is your parents still back there?
Hatice: They were actually in Finland. After they went to Finland, I had to finish my school in Turkey...That’s why I went later.
Riya: So your parents went before you?
Hatice: Yes.
Riya: And, when you moved – did you have any issues getting out of Turkey and like how did you come?
Hatice: Actually, when we were leaving Turkey there was nothing actually. After we came here, the coup attempt happened. Many people went to jail and that’s why we couldn’t go back to Turkey. Many of my father’s friends in this situation lost their money, families, and their lives, and they went to jail. If I go back to Turkey right now, we will be in the same situation.
Riya: Is it like some certain people that the government is targeting? Or are they generally throwing people in jail?
Hatice: They just…I don’t know how to say it…For example, there were so many schools and hospitals that according to ---- movement, even my sister was working in that school, they all closed that schools – like all of them…If you’re working there, they can just take you to jail. Just because, you were working in a school…
Riya: So the movement is basically against schools?
Hatice: Schools, hospitals, yeah.
Riya: When do you came to Helsinki, was it your first time ever moving out of the country?
Hatice: Yes, it was the first time.
Riya: And did you know…you’re not going to have an opportunity to go back?
Hatice: No, we didn’t have the opportunity to go back.
Riya: But no did you know, like did you know you’re not gonna go back?
Hatice: When we came here first, we didn’t know that. But after…as I said, the coup attempt, we decided not to go.
Riya: So you never actually got to say goodbye to all the things?
Hatice: No.
Riya: This is more about like the law side. But, to what extent do you feel protected by the law in Helsinki? Like after everything that happened in Turkey, does it make you feel better in the law in Helsinki?
Hatice: Yes, exactly. I feel like a human being. Because, I wasn’t feel like this in Turkey. I was feeling a pressure in Turkey. But… I feel like [a] human being.
Riya: Do you feel any discrimination in Helsinki, because you’re from Turkey? Basically - do you feel like people like look at you in a different way or they judge you, because you’re from Turkey? Or like they judge you maybe I don’t know, because [of] your religion or your accent or anything?
Hatice: Oh okay. I haven’t had something like that. Finnish people are like so respectful to us.
Riya: That’s nice. Did you, like did you feel any particular barriers when you moved to Helsinki? Like in personal life? Did you feel anything? I mean, of course, like you know you moved without knowing. But did you feel any personal, like, barriers in Helsinki?
Hatice: Um actually, after I understood that we won’t go to Turkey for maybe like…for a long time…I had a depression for like two years. Because I went to IB and there I didn’t have any friends and they were kind of judging me because of my religion. After two years, I got my residence permit and then everything went back to normal step by step.
Riya: Since the coup attempt have you visited Turkey again? Or, are you planning to?
Hatice: If I take my citizenship from Finland, I can go.
Riya: Ah, so you’re waiting to get like a passport from Finland?
Hatice: Yes, yes.
Riya: Okay.
Hatice: I don’t know if I want to go, because the situation is not so good – like before in Turkey.
Riya: Of course, of course. Your safety matters the most. And you moved out in 2016, right? Do you still have any family members or any relatives still back there?
Hatice: Yes, yes. Do you mean in Finland or in Turkey?
Riya: In Turkey.
Hatice: Oh, my sister lives there.
Riya: Your sister?
Hatice: Yes, with her family. And she has a kid.
Riya: Oh my god, is she okay? Like are the conditions okay now?
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Hatice: Yeah, they are okay. But we are waiting for the decision from court.
Riya: A decision from court? About what?
Hatice: They were teachers in the school of ---- Movement.
Riya: Oh your sister and your sister’s husband?
Hatice: Yes.
Riya: So, what is the case about?
Hatice: It’s about being teacher in that school and they’re judging just because of that. So, they have a case for three years. It has to have a result two years ago, but they didn’t give any result. So, we are just waiting for more than three years.
Riya: And is your sister allowed to travel anywhere she wants? Or does she have to stay in Turkey? Like have you seen her?
Hatice: No, I haven’t seen her for three and a half years.
Riya: Oh my god, I’m so sorry…This is a little bit different – what does freedom of movement mean to you?
Hatice: I think, for me, it’s like everything. It’s the most important thing in life. You can do whatever you want. You can go wherever you want. And I feel so free in Finland. I can’t go back to my country, but I prefer to stay here.
Riya: And do you consider Helsinki your home now? Do you consider it your home?
Hatice: Yeah. Like I miss my home so much, like I can’t even express with words. But, I don’t see a future in Turkey. That’s why I’m planning to stay in Finland for the entirety of my life.
Riya: Okay, okay…Can you describe how was it for you when you first moved?
Hatice: It was exciting.
Riya: Like environmentally? How was the Finnish people? The new school? I know you mentioned that…I mean of course you were under a lot of stress and you were depressed, I mean, which is understandable, but except that…like anything you found really new? Anything like that? Basically an experience like in your first week or first month or so?
Hatice: It was so exciting for me. Like, it was my first experience of going abroad. And Finnish people were so nice…They are still nice, but it was my first experience. I really like this country. Because in Turkey, you feel pressure from people – like in every situation... you feel pressure. And, so yeah. My first time here was really nice.
Riya: Did you feel any like particular discrimination back in Turkey? Like even though it was like your home country, did you feel like you were judged about something or anything? Like did you feel any discrimination? Back in Turkey?
Hatice: No, actually. No.
Riya: What are like some of the things that are maybe similar in Helsinki and that remind you of like your life in Turkey?
Hatice: Similar things...well actually I don’t see anything. They both are so different…Yeah, but like I miss Turkey so much. Geographically, it’s a beautiful country. And of course, it’s my homeland. I really miss it so much. But as I said before, I don’t see a future there. So…and I like this country too. Like, I like Finland. And I got used to liv[ing] here for more than three years. And I like school right now. And I have friends here – like so many friends. So, I get used to live here.
Riya: So you like your life in Helsinki now more than maybe… I mean, because you know there was no future going to Turkey? So, you like your life in Helsinki?
Hatice: Yes, that’s right.
Riya: That’s amazing. Hatice, can I just say…I am genuinely so thankful that you, you know you made the time and you were like, you know, you actually wanted to share your story. Is there anything else that you would want like others to know? Or anything – like anything particular you want others to know – like people who have gone through the same thing? Like they would want to know? Like anything you’d like to mention?
Hatice: Yes. If there are any other people like me - if they don’t feel safe in their country or feel pressure in their country, they can like…this is a big risk. I can say that this is a really big risk, but it’s really better to leave the country. Because living free is the most important thing in life, I think.
Riya: Thank you. Also, just like one quick last question. What exactly is home for you? Like, what is the definition for home for you?
Hatice: Home for me is to feel safe, to live safe, and to live happy.
Riya: Sounds perfect.
Hatice: I have to be happy where I live, I think.
Riya: Thank you so much for doing this. It means a lot.