Meet Abdullah Kurdi
Abdullah Kurdi is the devastated Syrian father who tragically lost his son, Aylan Kurdi –the boy drowned and was found face down on a beach near the Turkish resort of Bodrum, reports The Guardian.
The shocking images of his son’s body have caused major headlines depicting the tragic plight of refugees. Young Aylan was one of at least 12-others who drowned attempting to enter Greece.
Turkish media identified the boy as three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, but Abdullah Kurdi not only lost one son; it was also noted that Aylan Kurdi’s five-year-old brother and their mother, died in a similar way.
Abdullah Kurdi lived a nightmare when he was left to steer the boat where he and his family came. He described the scene to AP, saying the captain of the boat heading to Greece panicked due to high waves and jumped into the sea, leaving him in control of the small craft. The boat flipped and he later realized his wife and children were all dead.
Abdullah Kurdi, the boys and their mother came from Damascus but when clashes happened they moved to the northern Syrian town of Kobani; but after moving several times due to the Syrian conflict they moved to Turkey in 2012.
Abdullah Kurdi and his wife Rehan, were parents to 3-year-old Aylan and 5-year-old Galip. The father of two, had been living in Turkey for the last three years. The family’s final destination was Canada were relatives had been trying to sponsor their asylum claim.
Abdullah Kurdi’s sister Tima told BBC radio, she attempted to get them to Canada because in Turkey “it is horrible the way they treat Syrians.”
Following the tragic deaths, Abdullah Kurdi stated to media, he no longer wants to continue on to Europe. He is said to take the bodies of his two sons and wife to be buried in home town of Kobani.
At least four people have been detained in connection to the tragedy.
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