One Monday morning I left my house to go to work, and I never returned. Today, that is eleven years ago.

Robert Philomé fled his home country Haiti, because his live was in danger. He still believes that the most important job as a journalist is telling the truth, whatever the cost for telling this might be. Robert is not the only one with a story, with him are four other speakers joining a panel to talk about journalists in exile.

We are not a treat, we are a resource

The most important message by all of them seems to be that their host countries of today should make use of them, as they are professionally trained journalist, who can be a rich source of information. Often the media talk about foreign countries, yet ignoring the fact that there are people who have first hand stories and information to be told.

Because of the treatment of for instance Italy, the exiled journalists explain to be condemned for the second time. Once, by their home country, and a second time by their newfound host country. According to Jean Claude Mbede, who fled from Cameroon to Italy, the situation of exiled journalists is that “they are dead, even though they are still alive”. Dead because of ignorance and lack of recognition.

Romanians and Roma, not the same thing

According to Claudio Martelli, todays discussion leader, one of the oldest human rights is still not fully being implemented. The right for asylum, for whoever needs to flee his or her country. According to Claudio, a lot of improvement can be made by the media. He claims that there are a lot of mistakes made by the media, and those mistakes are made because of ignorance. In turn, these mistakes can cause prejudice. As an example, Iran is often regarded as an Arab country. Zakaria Mohamed Ali, who fled from Somalia, explains: “Italian journalists are not totally free, they consider journalism as a business”. Immigrants and refugees are often seen as ‘the same thing’. Claudio: “People forget that immigrants often make a choice to live in another country, while refugees are forced to do so. They are often threatened with death.”

Reza Ganji, born and raised in Iran, (an Asian country, off course) explains the situation of exiled journalists as a paradox. While in most cases, they are the ones who witness disaster and report about it, while all others around them flee, journalists in exile have to flee too.

Language is the first working tool of any journalist

All of the journalists experienced problems, when trying to build up a new life. They are totally lost, and need to start all over again. Jean Claude: “Language is the first working tool of any journalist. And when just arriving there is a problem to express yourself in the host country.” Also problems to find work and ‘a new place in life’ are hard to regain. For a lot of asylum seekers it is difficult to prove their qualification, because they have no certificate of their schooling, or this certificate is just not recognized. These and many other problems often cause, or go hand in hand, with mental problems like depression.

We still have brothers and sisters in exile

Zakaria: “I come from a country were people want democracy, we come here, inspired and looking for democracy. There can only be freedom for journalists, if we can write without any fear.” Robert: “Now, after about ten years, I am away from exile, but we still have brothers and sisters in exile.” Also Claudio keeps stating the importance of this topic, and that we should all work on it. According to Claudio, there are a lot of people even deciding to live in the dark, to avoid further danger. To go throughout life as a mere reflection of whom they once were. Claudio states: “We should ask them to come out in the open”. “Knowledge is the first pillar of democracy, and we could know so much more. There are a lot of countries we know very little of, they only become a topic if for instance a war is happening.”

The main message seems to be, to start altering our lives, to invite these ‘foreign guests’ into our countries, homes and hearts, because there is so much more to learn. And especially ‘we’, as journalists should listen to this message, because everything we display in the open can trigger emotions and even influence behavior of others.

Nicole Jachmann