The Wait

In 2010 Rokhsar and her family fled Afghanistan because they were afraid of the Taliban and after six months of illegal border crossing through Europe they ended up in Denmark where they sought asylum. Nevertheless, the immigration authorities doubt their story and the fact that they will be persecuted if they return to Afghanistan which means that they have been denied asylum several times. They are now staying in Denmark illegally and facing deportation.

Rokhsar’s family members are traumatized by the circumstances and since Rokhsar is the only one who speaks Danish fluently, she has undertaken the burden of fighting the authorities.

In spite of her young age Rokhsar is dealing with the immigration authorities, lawyers and different NGOs and every time they get mail from the authorities about their case, Rokhsar has to translate and explain the content to the rest of the family. Sometimes she even withholds information from her parents because she is afraid that it will have a negative impact on their fragile mental state.

As Rokhsar turns 16 the family is up for the final option to get asylum, building the case on Rokhsar’s strong integration. But carrying her family’s destiny on her tiny shoulders comes with a price