Wednesday 21 April 2010

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Polar bear kebabs : Iranian Kazem Ariaiwand tells of his life in

  • Wednesday 21 April 2010
  • Fouad GM
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  • Two months ago, the BBC World Service ran a documentary on the Iranian Kazem Ariaiwand kebab-seller and inhabitant of the Norwegian island of Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean.

    In the documentary, Kazem narrates his story and his family's departure from Iran in pursuit of asylum. After failing to get asylum, and after the breakdown of the Ariaiwand family, Kazem immigrated to live in the Norwegian Arctic island of Svalbard where foreigners are allowed to settle the desolate island with minimal legal requirements.


    Norway's desire to encourage immigrants to inhabit its Arctic island led the Scandinavian country to open up its islands to residents of all nationalities with little or no legal requirements. However, being a resident of Svalbard, Kazem is not allowed to travel to mainland Norway or other neighbouring countries without valid immigration documents. Kazem has therefore been stranded on the island which he now calls home - an island where night time is half a year and day time is the other half. On Svalbard, Kazem owns and runs the world's most northerly kebab shop serving polar bear kebabs.

    Norway's desire to encourage immigration to Svalbard and other Arctic islands could well be explained in context of the climate of conflict over sovereignty between the Arctic Ocean's littoral states.

    The documentary explores life on Svalbard, talks with residents and examines the hardships of non-EU immigrants to the island.

    You can listen to the half hour documentary on BBC World Service (click here).

    5 Responses to “Polar bear kebabs : Iranian Kazem Ariaiwand tells of his life in”

    Anonymous said...
    5 December 2010 at 11:52

    I saw the doc here in Finland and was touched by his fate. I hope he got to see his child.


    Unknown said...
    11 February 2016 at 01:07

    Kazem Az pedarsukhtegi va Az rahaye dozdi va mavad frushi va zamin zadan zanhaye dorobarash sahebe mal o servati kasif shodeh


    Unknown said...
    11 February 2016 at 01:09

    Harchi kazem bisharaf male harumkhur khpshbakhti ra tajrobeh mikonad man badbakhti ra tajrobeh mikonam ke hamin kazeme lanati ba chapidan mal o amvalam mano b in roze siah neshundeh


    Unknown said...
    8 April 2016 at 16:31

    BishtR tozih bedid lotfan


    Unknown said...
    8 April 2016 at 16:31

    BishtR tozih bedid lotfan


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