The Tornio based Polaris-language service President and CEO, Cyrus Jebraeil, has been the last few days, in a terrible hurry. He interprets Dari and Persian languages, and his business cares also for many other language interpreters as well.

Although the work recently has been enough, Christian Jebraeil has strong views about the growth in the number of asylum seekers.

 He is indeed of the opinion that the overwhelming majority of asylum seekers coming here will find it really difficult, if not impossible, to adapt here.

– Many see that this is now the crisis. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Then it will become difficult, when it is desired to integrate them.

According to Jebraeil Finland has had a crisis with immigrants already in the past.

– This only gets worse, and it’s scary. The Finns are wonderful, but helping was not sensible.

All this says the former quota refugee who came to Tornio in 2004.

Jebraeil estimate for integration: a big reason is Christianity

Cyrus Jebraeil became a refugee when it began to be too difficult to live in their home country of Iran. The reason was that the family had converted from Islam to Christianity, when Jebraeil was 20 years old. The family were active Christians who wanted to spread their newfound joy, and six and a half years after his conversion life in Iran started to be too difficult.

Jebraeil came to Finland at the age of 27 from a UN refugee agency camp in Turkey.

– In my opinion eleven and a half years here have gone real well, very well. I learned the language, adapted, and settled.

Four weeks after arriving Jebraeil was at a Men’s Day Big-Bait for ice fishing and skiing. Nowadays, he has a wife from southern Finland and places his hook below the Tornio River ice for bottom fish.

Jebraeil believes that one big reason for his adaptation is the fact that he joined the Finnish Christian culture .

– When I came here, I knew where to go and where to get contacts. With whom can I learn the language and culture.

“Worlds far apart”

To adapt here, something is needed that connects to Finland and Finnish culture, Jebraeil believes. All of these migrants coming do not have anything like that, he says.

– The worlds are greatly far apart. This is going to be awfully difficult for them. Many of them – I’m not saying that all – have come here on the basis of rumors. Their expectations, and at some point, demands, are not what should be. They will be disappointed.

Language is very complex and demanding. The culture is very different. Weather, conditions and the structure of society are different, Jebraeil lists.

– This is an absolutely huge challenge for them. And also for us.

According to him, the biggest thing is that the values ​​are different.

– For Finns forgiveness is basic matter, but in other cultures it is not understood. Integrity, transparency and diligence are Finnish values. They are Christian values. A small part of the Finnish people goes to church, but the basic values are ​​of the Bible, which calls upon to do the work.

Christianity is clearly important Jebraeil, and the faith directs his values. When he applied for parliament in 2011, his election theme was built a lot upon the Christian values he describes, such as family values.

Those coming, who have distress

Jebraeil has been working at the reception center. Nowadays he meet with asylum seekers in his work as an interpreter. What kind of people are they, then?

– Among them are people of all different types, just like in Finland, there are all kinds of people. There are people who have a real emergency and people who have come here on the basis of rumors.

According to Jebraeil Finland should negotiate in international circles in helping to solve crises elsewhere, rather than to receive asylum seekers.

– I hope that if anyone stays here, they could integrate. That he could become a newly arrived Finn.