Later I came to Lebanon and worked there as an electrician. I came to east Berlin when I was 25 years old and went to west Berlin after, to apply for asylum. The entire process from application to recognition took 15 years. I had the opportunity to repeat my training as an electrician here in Germany, and also to get a degree, so that I could work in my profession here. The company ,where I made my training took me over directly. I was stateless from 1973 until 1990. As a stateless person has the right to naturalization, my application was granted in 1991. In my passport there is no month of my birth, but XXX. Only the year is there. I don’t know my exact birth date.

I married in 1974 in Lebanon, and my wife followed me to Germany one year later. We have 5 children, who all live and work here. One of my daughters is a nurse and one is a social worker. One of my sons works in a clothing store, one in a drug store and the third in the catering trade. I am proud of my children. I did not have any problems with the German language, because I spoke good English. I don’t miss anything in Germany, because the war destroyed everything in Lebanon. The only important thing to me is the life in peace.

For integration, I would like to see more dialogue with each other. When it comes to religious freedom, everyone should be able to believe whatever they want. We are all the same. You should treat people well, then you will be treated well too.