Refugee Men Face Stigma Across European Countries

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Athens, Greece – A 14-year-old migrant from Afghanistan has shared his experiences of facing suspicion, hatred, and homelessness during his journey to Germany.

Ahmed* arrived in Germany in 2019 with only the clothes on his back and a phone. He was part of an estimated 1.2 million people who claimed asylum in Greece between 2015 and 2020. According to recent data, 63% of recent arrivals to Europe were single men traveling alone.

Ahmed’s story is not unique. A report by the International Organization for Migration found that male refugees often travel alone due to safety concerns during their journey. Young people like Ahmed also make up a small but significant proportion of asylum applicants.

In Germany, Ahmed faces stigma and discrimination as a young refugee man. He reports being ignored in housing applications due to his name and facing hurtful comments from society. “I experience discrimination simply for being a young refugee man,” he said.

A 2025 study by the German research institute Ifo found no correlation between an increase in migrants and local crime rates, including violent crimes such as sexual assault. However, Ahmed’s account echoes a broader trend across Europe where hostile portrayals of migrants have been used by far-right figures to justify restrictive policies.

Experts note that this rhetoric often relies on unsupported claims and perpetuates negative stereotypes about migrant communities. “This is ironic, because these are the same political parties who stand for a very patriarchal position of the role of women in society,” said Camille Le Coz, director of Migration Policy Institute Europe.

Ahmed’s story highlights the challenges faced by young asylum seekers like himself as they try to build new lives in Europe. Despite facing obstacles, Ahmed hopes to continue his education and pursue university studies this summer.

Source: Al Jazeera