Yusra Mardini, an Olympic athlete and Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, stated that European governments use refugees with the intention of diverting focus from other issues. She also advocated for greater freedom of movement for these people.
In statements made to Lusa, the ambassador, who is originally from Syria and has also experienced refugee status, criticized the tendency to blame refugees for the internal problems of host countries. She emphasized that refugees are not seeking to steal jobs or property, but rather a chance to lead a simple and peaceful life.
Mardini suggested that more responsibility must be demanded from governments, as refugees can serve as a means to divert attention from broader political decisions. During her participation in the 10th edition of the Estoril Conferences, held on the campus of Nova SBE (NOVA University of Lisbon), the activist and Olympic swimmer advised European leaders to concentrate efforts on integration and solving the real problems of societies.
The athlete recalled her remarkable journey, starting from Damascus, Syria, during the civil war (2011-2024), until reaching Germany, where she realized her dream of competing in the Olympics. Yusra Mardini gained notoriety for helping save 18 refugees who were trying to cross the Mediterranean in a precarious boat, along with her sister, Sarah Mardini, also an activist.
While crossing the Aegean Sea, from Turkey to Greece, the speedboat's engine failed. Yusra, Sara, and two other swimmers jumped into the water and managed to propel and pull the boat for over three hours until they reached the Greek island of Lesbos, ensuring the survival of everyone aboard. The journey of Sarah and Yusra mirrors that of millions of Syrians fleeing the conflict, and their story was adapted into the film 'The Swimmers' in 2022.
According to the UN, after the end of the war in 2024, about 1.7 million refugees and 1.9 million internally displaced persons returned to their communities in Syria. However, 5.5 million people remain internally displaced in the country, and more than six million Syrian refugees reside abroad.
After participating in two Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Tokyo (2020), Yusra is now dedicated to promoting the integration of people like her through the foundation she established and other humanitarian actions. The activist emphasizes that her current work consists of proving that refugees are human beings and informing about the reasons for their departure from their countries.
Arguing during the event, Yusra mentioned the diversity present in schools, saying that they are examples of how people from all over the world coexist. She reinforced that refugees deserve more freedom of movement. Questioning the audience, she asked why this freedom should not be granted to refugees, who need to move due to war, just as she has with her German passport.
The Olympic athlete reiterated that the essential factor is human integration and argued that European states must create more mechanisms so that refugees feel part of society. For her, sports was her path because it 'promotes unity,' facilitating practical integration, which her foundation in Germany successfully achieves.
Germany was the country that received the most Syrian refugees during the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, who resigned in 2021. Currently, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has adopted a stricter stance regarding German immigration, under strong influence from the AfD, an extreme-right party competing with the CDU (center-right) for national political power.