others seeking asylum in the United States. After struggling for
a few years upon coming to the U.S., Sanati decided the best way to give back to his people was to help them find safety in America. He says he has assisted hundreds of ref- ugees seeking asylum in the United States. After Sanati left Iraq
in 1976, he spent a few years living as a refugee in Greece before being granted asylum in the United States. He moved to Detroit,
home to the largest Chal- dean population in the United States, then to Orange County, and lastly to San Diego in 1989. “In 1975, the old
regime, the dictator regime, bombed and destroyed 225 villages that belonged to the Christians. At the time I
worked as a TV journal- ist. Because of that, I was a target for the govern- ment. I had no choice but to leave. I left in 1976. At that time it was very hard to come to the United States. You had to come to one of the surround- ing countries. I went to Greece. I stayed there from 1976 to 1979.” Sanati applied for
asylum in the United States but was denied multiple times before being accepted along with his wife in 1979. When asked about his village in Iraq, Sanati becomes sentimental. Upon mov- ing to the United Sates he changed his last name to Sanati in dedication of his birth place, Sanat. “They call my birth
village ‘the lost paradise.’ Iraq was one of the most beautiful countries. We had freedom like here
Babylon Market on Main Street
in the United States. If I showed you a picture of how we used to live, you wouldn’t believe it. We were the most educated people. In the time of that regime, [Iraq] had 33,000 scientists. Iraq was almost like a European country. I miss it a lot. I left with my
memories and dreams.” In San Diego, Sanati
became very involved in the Chaldean community. Because of his work aid- ing refugees, many friends and neighbors came to him for help and advice on family members still in Iraq and those who had
RESEARCH STUDIES
fled to surrounding areas. “In 1988, the Iraqi
regime attacked the north territory by chem- ical weapon. Part of my [extended] family was still there. My family crossed the border to Turkey. By that time, it had been almost 12 years since I left
Iraq. I was at home here when someone knocked on my door. Some guy I didn’t know said he just came from the camp in Turkey and three of my first cousins were over there. They [gave him] a letter for me. In the letters were pictures. I no longer recognized them because they were just boys when I left. They begged me to do something for them. They thought the Iraqi government were bribing and paying the Turkish to get the Chaldeans.” Sanati managed to
collect donations for his cousins. Despite the risk, he decided he would fly to Turkey and visit the camps. “People in the Chal-
dean community heard I was going. They had people in the camps, too, but they were scared to go. Turkey was very dangerous at that time.
HAVE YOU BEEN DIAGNOSED
WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING? Myelodysplastic syndromes
Sickle Cell Disease • Hemochromatosis Thalassemia • Sideroblastic anemia
Have you received blood transfusions or had to have blood removed to treat your disease?
If so please call 877-500-3788 to discover if you qualify to participate in a clinical trial.
You may be compensated up to $1,000 for your time and travel.
eStudySite.com
20 San Diego Reader April 21, 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116