Published: March 08, 2008 10:20 pm            

Iraqi enjoys new life in Chatsworth

When Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was in power, voting for Ayad Mohmmad Majeed consisted of checking either “yes” or “no” on a ballot that asked whether you approved of Hussein’s presidency.

And everyone knew to check “yes.”

“The meaning of freedom, we don’t have there,” said Majeed, who has been granted refuge in the United States and is now living in Chatsworth with Chuck Butler.

Butler spent more than a year in Iraq working for Dynacorp International in security. Majeed was an interpreter.

Majeed has lost a lot in a few short years. The vehicle he was in was hit with a roadside bomb on Jan. 16, 2006. Majeed lost his right arm in the blast and has severe injuries to his right forearm. His legs were hit with shrapnel.

A native of Iraq, this is the first time Majeed has been in the United States. But he said he had to get out of Iraq when his life was threatened, leaving behind his wife and three children. He is absorbing American culture like the biscuits he is eating for breakfast absorb the white cream gravy.



Living under Hussein



Majeed, 33, was born in Basra, a city in southern Iraq. He went to school and college there.

Under the reign of Hussein, he saw his friends go to jail for such trivial things as listening to forbidden broadcasts on the radio.

“You can’t move from a city to another city,” Majeed said. “You can’t buy a house in some place until you get permission. The government has the right to take your house if they want.”

When Saddam was overthrown in 2003, there was hope of freedom for the first time.

“The first year was very good,” Majeed said. “People were working and they were improving our lives.”

But soon, al-Qaida rebels and other militia began terrorizing the country. Their anti-American sentiment led to violence that spilled the blood of innocent Iraqis.

“I think they want to kill Americans,” Majeed said. “But sometimes if you blow up a market of women and children, you are just killing innocent people. Someone can be killed for 50 bucks. That has nothing to do with Americans.”

Majeed voted in the first elections ever held in Iraq on Jan. 30, 2005. People stood in long lines and were often told about the threat of violence, he said.

“There was an 88 percent turnout even though their lives were in danger,” Majeed said.

When British soldiers left southern Iraq, Majeed lost his job interpreting for Dynacorp International and was labeled a spy. With his life in danger, he fled to Jordan.



Coming to America



Butler was on vacation when Majeed’s convoy was bombed and he lost his arm. The driver and front passenger in the vehicle were killed and an American medic was also hurt.

“I have a lot of guilt,” Butler said. “I was on vacation. Three months before, I placed him in the vehicle so he could start riding with us.”

Butler and his co-workers began collecting money to help pay for Majeed’s medical expenses. Butler made a promise to get Majeed out of Iraq, writing congressmen and senators in several states.

Majeed made it to Jordan, but there was a chance if he became indigent, he would be kicked out.

“He was saying he wanted to go back to Iraq where he could hide,” Butler said. “I was pushing every day, calling them (congressmen and senators).”

Majeed was asked if he knew anyone in America. He told them about Butler. Butler agreed to provide a place for Majeed to stay.

Butler said Sen. Saxby Chambless, R-Ga., was able to secure Majeed’s refugee status.

On Feb. 26 shortly after 10 p.m., Majeed landed at the Atlanta airport.



Life in America



In the few days that Majeed has been in the states, he has learned about the generosity of Americans. Coming here with only the clothes on his back and one other outfit, he now has a closet full of clothes.

Majeed has experienced the freedom of worship, attending church with Butler at First Baptist Church of Chatsworth last Sunday.

And soon, he will experience freedom of speech.

Majeed will speak at Coker Elementary School on March 15 at 9 a.m.

So far, he has only seen Atlanta, Chatsworth, Dalton and some other areas of North Georgia.

His favorite place — Wal-Mart. He enjoys seeing all the merchandise and all the people, he said.

Majeed and Butler are working to get his wife and his sons, who are 6 and 3 and his 5-year-old daughter to America.

He sees himself staying in Chatsworth, even though he is not sure what the future holds and he is still deciding on what kind of work he will do.

And he knows that no matter what, Butler, the man he calls “brother,” will be there to continue to help him.

        

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