The year-old Iraqi taxi driver is among thousands from the Middle East who have been trying to cross into the EU in recent months through a backdoor opened by non-EU member Belarus. He hoped to enter Poland and eventually reach Germany to join his older brother, Sarwar, who had successfully completed the journey. Somewhere near the Polish border, his dreams were crushed. He and others in his group were stopped by Belarusian troops who he said beat them and took their possessions, including his money and cellphone.
For days, the group was trapped in a forest, not allowed to enter Poland or return to Minsk. For many in the Middle East, beaten down by conflict and hopelessness, the lure of jobs and stability in Europe has always been powerful. Legal entry has been near-impossible, with the EU tightening its borders in recent years.
Every year, tens of thousands try to get in, embarking on treacherous and, at times, deadly journeys by sea and land. Others were deterred by such risks until an opportunity for seemingly easy entry to Europe appeared to open up earlier this year.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, angered after the EU imposed sanctions on his authoritarian regime following a harsh internal crackdown on dissent, announced he was retaliating by loosening border controls against Western-bound migrants.
EU officials accused him of using the migrants as pawns, while Lukashenko denies that and says Europe is violating their rights by denying them safe passage. Belarus began offering easy tourist visas to Iraqis, Syrians and others from the Middle East and Africa.
