Footage of refugees celebrating Eid at a shelter in Stockholm, Sweden on Thursday.

PARTNER COPY/TRANSLATIONS:
STOCKHOLM, September 24 - The feast of Eid Al-Adha which began on Thursday, is one of the biggest and most important holidays in the Muslim calendar, but 2015 sees many thousands far from home and seeking sanctuary in Europe.

Many have already reached safe havens in Sweden and Germany after a long trek across the continent, and though the celebrations at a Stockholm shelter were not the same as back home, parents and volunteers did their best to make sure the children enjoyed the celebrations.

“It won’t be the same as in our homeland,” said Ali Radouan, who left Iraq qith his wife and son and fled to Sweden.”But these people have organized it so that we can celebrate Eid, so this year we will celebrate here in Sweden.

The children – from Syria, Iraq and Yemen – are all temporary residents at a makeshift shelter in Husby, the Stockholm suburb which became world-famous when rioting broke out two and a half years ago.

That violence is a distant memory. The local community, many of whom are immigrants themselves, has rallied round to help the country’s newest residents

Together with the local soccer club, Leo Ahmed has led the relief efforts, focusing on children with families who have arrived in the Swedish capital.

“We are trying our best. When they come, when they arrive in the central station they are crying, it’s a disaster. Our call is that every single child, when they leave here, they should leave with a smile,” says the political activist for the Left Party.

Locals arrived at the shelter throughout the day, providing presents, candy, face-painting and bubbles for adults and children alike to celebrate the holiday after their arduous journeys.

“The journey to Sweden was very long and very difficult, we went through forests and over seas,” says Ali Radouan.

“It was very difficult until we got to Sweden, and we actually weren’t going to stay in Sweden, we were going to go to another country, but the warm welcome we got here from the Swedish people made us decide to seek asylum here.”

Despite the warm welcome, Ali is unsure of what the future holds, and where he and his family will celebrate Eid next year remains to be seen.

“Eid? Only God knows. Maybe here in Sweden, somewhere in Europe, in another country. Maybe we won’t celebrate Eid. It depends how the situation is the next time Eid comes around.”

SHOTLIST

SHOWS: REFUGEE SHELTER, HUSBY, STOCKHOLM, 24 SEPTEMBER 2015

1. EXTERIOR OF BUILDING
2. SIGN (SWEDISH AND ARABIC) SAYING “WELCOME”
3. VARIOUS INTERIOR OF LOCALS AND REFUGEES CELEBRATING EID
4. SOUNDBYTE (Arabic) – Ali Radouan saying: ““It won’t be the same as in our homeland, but these people have organized it so that we can celebrate Eid, so this year we will celebrate here in Sweden.”
5. VARIOUS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS PLAYING
6. SOUNDBYTE (English) – Leo Ahmed saying: “We are trying our best. When they come, when they arrive in the central station they are crying, it’s a disaster. Our call is that every single child, when they leave here, they should leave with a smile.”
7. VARIOUS OF FACE-PAINTING
8. SOUNDBYTE (Arabic) – Ali Radouan saying: ““It was very difficult until we got to Sweden, and we actually weren’t going to stay in Sweden, we were going to go to another country, but the warm welcome we got here from the Swedish people made us decide to seek asylum here.”
9. VARIOUS OF CHILDREN BLOWING BUBBLES
10. SOUNDBYTE (Arabic) – Ali Radouan saying: “Eid? Only God knows. Maybe here in Sweden, somewhere in Europe, in another country. Maybe we won’t celebrate Eid. It depends how the situation is the next time Eid comes around.”
11. INTERIOR OF ROOM