Is 12 Years a Refugee is a quiet, powerful story of survival, silence, and the fear of returning home.
At fifteen, Nasir fled Syria alone, leaving behind his parents, siblings, and everything familiar. For twelve years, he lived in exile in Istanbul, working behind a grocery store counter, sharing crowded apartments with other displaced families, and carrying a silence he believed would protect the people he loved.
When the war ends and the possibility of return finally opens, Nasir is faced with a question he has avoided for over a decade: What does home mean when you no longer recognize yourself, or the place you left behind?
Set between the everyday grind of refugee life and the emotional weight of return, 12 Years a Refugee explores identity, faith, fear, and the fragile hope that survives displacement. It is a story about the long aftermath of war, and the quiet courage it takes to step toward a future when the past is still unresolved.
 |
AbuHudhayfah Edwards Joined: Apr-23-2025 |
Abu Hudhayfah Edwards is an author of Islamic children’s books dedicated to amplifying the voices and experiences of young Muslims living in the USA, Caribbean, and Canada. As the creator of WKTL Radio, also known as IslamLife Radio, and Medina Educational Institute (MEI), he channels his passion for education and community into engaging stories that reflect the cultural styles and realities of Muslim youth. Once featured in Style Weekly in the article “After These Messages,” where he was described as “stoic and deep thinking,” Abu Hudhayfah Edwards continues to write with purpose and vision, committed to ensuring that Muslim children see themselves represented in the books they read.
