18 Young Kurds in the Mediterranean: A Journey That Began with Hope

They were not simply “migrants.”

They were 18 young Kurds who decided to leave their homeland with a simple hope: to reach Europe and build a better life — a normal life, with safety, dignity, and the possibility of looking toward the future.

According to information collected by Ranj Peshdari, an activist working in the field of migration, their journey began on 5 Mordad. Four days later, from 9 Mordad onward, all contact between the passengers on the boat and their families was completely lost. In the middle of the same month, the families began contacting the activist in search of information about their children.

In an effort to reconstruct what had happened, Peshdari travelled to Italy and conducted investigations in Palermo and Calabria. According to his account, he contacted hospitals, prisons, police stations and the Red Cross, but found no official information confirming that these young people had been rescued or arrested.

Later, according to information provided by the activist, a German organisation working to support migrants, using a surveillance aircraft, documented the remains of a boat that had sunk in the Mediterranean. The images reportedly showed the bodies of 11 people on the remains of the boat.

Among the images is a particularly painful scene: on the chest of one of the young men, a tattoo can be seen bearing two words in Kurdish:

“Dayê gian” — “My dear mother.”

Two words that tell an entire story.

They were not looking for a perfect life. They were looking for a normal one.

These young people came from a region marked by wars, instability, economic hardship and deep social crises. They were not necessarily looking for wealth or a privileged life. They were looking for safety, work, dignity and a future.

To reach that hope, they chose one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world.

And once again, the Mediterranean may have become the place where that hope was broken.

For years, we have witnessed similar tragedies. People trying to reach Europe face violence, exploitation, crime and inhuman conditions. Others disappear along the way. Still others die at sea before reaching their destination.

Behind every number, there is a person.

18 young people mean 18 lives, 18 families, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters waiting for an answer.

That is why we cannot allow this tragedy to become just another piece of news destined to be forgotten.

Before they were migrants, these people were human beings.

They have the right to life, safety and dignity.

My appeal is to all free people: let us not remain indifferent. Let us listen to the families, seek the truth, and give a voice to those who no longer have the chance to speak.

No one should be forced to risk their life at sea simply to have the chance to live a normal life.

The Mediterranean should be a bridge between people, not a cemetery for their hopes.

Shayan Moradi