Salim* arrived in Greece after fleeing violence and persecution in Sudan. He should have finally been safe. Instead, his story exposes the failings of the Greek asylum system that leave so many people seeking protection stuck in uncertainty.

Since the civil war began in April 2023, more than 12 million people have fled Sudan in search of safety, and over 150,000 people have died in the conflict. People escaping Sudan have often faced unimaginable violence and trauma. They urgently need compassion and support to rebuild their lives, yet many find themselves trapped in dysfunctional asylum systems, facing long delays and complex bureaucracy.

Without support from RLS lawyer Artemis, it is unclear how long Salim would have had to wait to receive refugee status. Finding safety and stability is nearly impossible without high-quality legal support, but access to this support is more limited than ever. That is why our work is so vital.

This winter, we need to raise £8,000 to continue supporting people like Salim as they navigate complex asylum systems. If you are able to, please consider supporting our CrowdJustice campaign.

Salim was born and raised in Khartoum. His family comes from a tribal group that faced regular discrimination because of their background. Despite these barriers, Salim completed a degree at the University of Science and Technology. He later married and became a father to four children.

Even before Sudan’s civil war began in 2023, Salim was politically active. He wanted to see meaningful change in his country and believed in the creation of a civil, democratic state. He became the spokesperson for his neighbourhood’s resistance committee and was well known locally. This visibility made him a target.

Salim was abducted. For his safety and privacy, we have not included details of the violence he endured during this period.

For his own survival, Salim had no choice but to leave Sudan. He was forced to leave his family behind and seek protection elsewhere. He travelled to Turkey on a visa and tried to find work, but without a residence permit he was unable to access essential services. Eventually, he had to move again.

Salim arrived in Greece in August 2024 and applied for asylum. His case should have been resolved quickly. Sudanese nationals are recognised for international protection in almost all cases in Greece due to the extreme danger in the country, and Salim had extensive documentation demonstrating his political background and the risks he would face if returned.

Despite this, his asylum interview was postponed due to a shortage of interpreters within the Greek asylum system. While he waited, the interview was postponed again. Salim was left trapped in uncertainty, with no indication of when his case would progress.

When speaking about his experience, Salim explained that starting from zero in a new country is extremely difficult, and that these challenges are made worse by an asylum system that seems designed to exclude people rather than protect them. While waiting, he was unable to apply for family reunification or begin rebuilding his life in Greece.

Desperate for help, Salim contacted 16 different organisations seeking legal support. Only four responded. Three had no capacity to assist him. The fourth was Refugee Legal Support.

RLS lawyer Artemis took on Salim’s case and worked urgently to move things forward. Salim later described her not just as a lawyer, but as a kind and supportive friend. With Artemis’s intervention, Salim’s asylum interview was brought forward to January 2025, far earlier than expected. She prepared him thoroughly, represented him at the interview, and connected him with other organisations for additional support, including access to a social worker.

In March 2025, Salim was finally granted refugee status. This decision gave him legal protection, the right to work, access to the same rights and benefits as Greek citizens, and the ability to apply for family reunification so his loved ones can join him in Greece. For the first time in years, he had a sense of security.

However, Salim’s case is not yet finished. His family remains in Sudan, and he has not seen them for more than three years. We are now supporting him through the family reunification process so they can join him safely in Greece.

This process is complex and filled with bureaucratic barriers. Salim needs authenticated documents from his family, but the Greek embassy in Sudan has closed due to security concerns. His family would need to travel to Egypt to complete the process, which is both dangerous and extremely difficult. Despite strict requirements for document authentication, the Greek authorities offer no meaningful assistance, even in cases like Salim’s where families are at heightened risk due to political persecution.

We will continue to support Salim throughout this process and represent him when the family reunification procedure moves forward.

In the meantime, Salim remains closely connected to his community. Many newly arrived Sudanese people contact him for help and advice when they arrive in Greece. When asked what encouragement he would offer others in similar situations, Salim said that building friendships is essential. He explained that everyone needs human support, even from people who are not related by blood.

This winter, we need to raise £8,000 to continue providing urgent legal support to people like Salim and his family. If you can, please consider donating through our CrowdJustice campaign.

Salim’s name has been changed to protect his identity.

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