Some stories that Migrant Tales has published about asylum seekers in Finland have had tragic endings. On Wednesday, however, there was a bright spot that cut through some of the gloom: Hayder Al-Hatemi, alias “SH,”* was released from detention from Helsinki’s Metsälä immigration removal center.
Today was his first full day as a free man.
“It really feels great to be free,” he said by phone. “I met Miro [del Gaudio] and we went to Migri [Finnish Immigration Service] to renew my work permit.”
Al-Hatemi said that being locked up at an immigration removal center like Metsälä is something he had never experienced in his life before.
“You are locked up with other people who may have criminal records and be drug dealers,” he continued. “What is my crime? Is it because my application for asylum was rejected? I’m not a criminal.”
Al-Hatemi said that his employer at a bakery in Laitila has promised to help him enroll in school so he could learn a new profession and become a baker. “This is such a nice feeling and so many people have helped me and made my freedom a reality,” he said.
Celebrating Hayder Al-Hatemi release Wednesday in Helsinki. From left to right: Eero Pellikka, Al-Hatemi, and Miro del Gaudio.
Al-Hatemi’s legal representatives, Lex Gaudius, have been instrumental in helping the Iraqi asylum seeker.
Lex Gaudius authorized lawyer Eero Pellikka was happy as well about his release.








