Overview

"When civil war broke out in his home country in 2011, Hassan Al Kontar was a young Syrian living and working in the UAE. He refused to return to Syria for compulsory military service and lived illegally before being deported to Malaysia in November 2017. Four months later, unable to obtain a visa for any other country, he became trapped in the arrivals zone at Kuala Lumpur Airport. Exiled by war and a victim of geopolitics, Al Kontar used social media and humour to tell his story to the world, becoming an international celebrity and ultimately finding refuge in Canada. Man at the Airport explores what it means to be a Syrian, an ""illegal"" and a refugee. More broadly, it examines the power of social media to amplify individual voices and facilitate political dissent."

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9781777010188

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Reviews

Man at the Airport is a testament to the power of one man's quest for asylum, and how social media has the ability to harness that power - but this book is much more than that. It's a window into Hassan Al Kontar's ingenuity, resilience, and determination not to be drawn into the war in his homeland . . . [It] has a musicality all of its own, sung to us with honesty, grace, and astonishing courage. SHENIZ JANMOHAMED, Quill & Quire This is the fascinating survival story of a migrant worker who, falling victim to geopolitical forces beyond his control, ends up in stateless limbo and is forced to rely on instinct, intelligence, and fortitude -- plus the kindness of strangers -- to avoid the grim prospect of returning to his homeland . . . Once I opened Al Kontar's highly readable and deeply affecting memoir, I finished it in a couple of sittings. DANIEL GAWTHROP, The British Columbia Review. Al Kontar is a wonderful young man with a wise old soul. He is also a gifted storyteller telling important truths in a hugely readable style. PAUL BLEZARD, LoveReading UK

"""Man at the Airport is a testament to the power of one man's quest for asylum, and how social media has the ability to harness that power - but this book is much more than that. It's a window into Hassan Al Kontar's ingenuity, resilience, and determination not to be drawn into the war in his homeland . . . [It] has a musicality all of its own, sung to us with honesty, grace, and astonishing courage."" SHENIZ JANMOHAMED, Quill & Quire ""This is the fascinating survival story of a migrant worker who, falling victim to geopolitical forces beyond his control, ends up in stateless limbo and is forced to rely on instinct, intelligence, and fortitude -- plus the kindness of strangers -- to avoid the grim prospect of returning to his homeland . . . Once I opened Al Kontar's highly readable and deeply affecting memoir, I finished it in a couple of sittings."" DANIEL GAWTHROP, The British Columbia Review. ""Al Kontar is a wonderful young man with a wise old soul. He is also a gifted storyteller telling important truths in a hugely readable style."" PAUL BLEZARD, LoveReading UK"

. . . a testament to the power of one man's quest for asylum, and how social media has the ability to harness that power - but this book is much more than that . . . Man at the Airport has a musicality all of its own, sung to us with honesty, grace, and astonishing courage. Quill & Quire Highly recommended. Vancouver Sun Al Kontar is a wonderful young man with a wise old soul. He is also a gifted storyteller telling important truths in a hugely readable style. LoveReading UK

Author Information

Hassan Al Kontar was raised in a prosperous Syrian home, the middle child of a mechanical engineer and nurse. He was working in the UAE when his work permit expired and civil war broke out in his home country. A conscientious objector by faith and temperament, he opted for a hand-to-mouth existence in the shadows until he was arrested and deported. Now a permanent resident of Canada based in Vancouver, he continues to advocate for refugees around the world.

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