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September 19, 2007

Family of Iraqi refugees arrive at new R.I. home

A family of four who fled the regime of Saddam Hussein have landed here in Rhode Island after a journey that included a five-year stay in Turkey.

The refugees are among about 1,200 Iraqis who have been allowed into the United States since the Bush administration changed policy in March under pressure from Congress and international human rights groups.

Before that, only about 400-plus Iraqis had been let in following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Today, Atheer Kiriacos Jajou, his wife, and their two children, ages 10 and 12, were welcomed at T.F. Green Airport by members of the International institute of Rhode Island. The institute has been handling the family's unusual resettlement case as part of its constant dealings with refugees.

It hasn't been an easy task.

Jajou said he had had to bribe Turkish officials in order to leave that country, and that their departure had been cancelled twice before.

Before leaving Iraq five years ago, Jajou said he had been jailed three times, as well as tortured, in the wake of getting sick and being unable to work at his job at a weapons arsenal.

One of the first things he asked about today was how to get a job here.

This afternoon, the tired-looking foursome were on their way to their new apartment, which was arranged by the International Institute.

But before taking off, they got a lesson in basic U.S. geography.

Jajou has a brother in Detroit, but he didn't know just where Rhode Island was. Greeters got out a map and helped the family orient themselves to both Motor City and their new location.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner

Posted by Andrea Panciera  at 2:14 PM | Permalink

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