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Cast
Sinan Can
Self
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This is a four part series on the fate of deported children of asylum-seekers in the Netherlands. Over the past ten years, many hundreds of children have been deported to countries they have little or no memory of, their parents having sought political asylum in the Netherlands but ultimately been rejected, leaving them the choice of leaving voluntarily in exchange for money or being forcibly deported by the Dutch government. Politically responsible administrators guaranteed that these children would be fine in the country of their parents. But virtually nothing is known about what actually happened to them after their deportation. This series tells the story of deported children in Iraq, Afghanistan, Angola, Armenia, and Kosovo.
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2013
In the first part, director Floris-Jan van Luyn shows what remains of dreams for the future when children are forced to return to countries with armed conflict. Journalist Sinan Can visits Ahmed (14), who was deported with his family from Dronten to the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. The oil-rich city is the new front line in a new round of fighting in Iraq, and the violence is frighteningly close. Can also travels to Kabul, Afghanistan. There, Ali (12) and his family live in daily fear, having been threatened by the Taliban since their deportation. Maryam (20) suffers the same fate. Now that violence is flaring up in Afghanistan, she and her family are seen as Western collaborators.
In the second part, director Arjanne Laan shows the effects of fear, insecurity, and uncertainty on asylum-seeking children. The documentary series follows the stories of Sonja, Milad, Primrose, and Ahmed, all four of whom are awaiting deportation to Afghanistan, Uganda, and Somalia, respectively. Their lives are ruled by fear, and it leaves deep scars on them. Journalist Sinan Can visits Arbesa (11), born in Zwolle, who was deported to Kosovo with her family a year ago. It turns out that deported children are not nearly as mentally flexible as was thought for years.
Director Thomas Blom shows how the political desire to stem the flow of asylum seekers led to a policy of deterrence. As a result, even rejected families with children were thrown out onto the streets. Angolan mother Louise Ferreira challenged this policy and won the legal battle. Her own case didn't yield much. The filmmakers visit her in a slum in Luanda, where she lives with her two children, who grew up in the Netherlands.
Director Thomas Blom investigates whether current Dutch asylum policy respects international children's rights. The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee demonstrates how they operate when deporting children. Journalist Sinan Can travels to Armenia, where Marianna (11) must build a new life with her mother and brother after six years in the Netherlands. Her father was separated from the family during their deportation and sent to another country. They were unable to say goodbye to him. In this final episode, it becomes clear that all the children visited face similar problems and ask the same questions about how they were deported from the Netherlands.
Sinan Can
Self