For many Aberdonians, the festive season is a time to pause, take stock, and cherish family, friends and loved ones.
But, for members of the Granite City’s newest community, every day in Scotland is an occasion to celebrate life.
Around 70 refugees from war-torn Syria have now been settled in Aberdeen, with the city council committed to giving 100 people from the war-ravaged country a fresh start.
The first group arrived in the north-east in March, and now, nine months later, many are fully settled into the Scottish way of life, and grateful to have escaped the violence and oppression, which was endemic in their homeland.
Mohammed Al Haj Hassan, 34, decided to leave his home in Aleppo along with his wife, Shukran Muslamany, 36, after he was imprisoned and tortured for 79 days.
Speaking through a translator, Mr Hassan, who worked in computer maintenance in Syria, said: “We left Syria in 2014 as refugees to Turkey, and came to Scotland this March.
“I was arrested by Assad’s forces – but they took the wrong man.
“I was kept at an military intelligence base for 79 days, my name was similar to someone they were looking for.
“I was beaten, whipped with a hose, and hung on a wall for hours at a time by my hands with my toes just touching the ground.
“Some people I knew, they would put out cigarettes on their skin.
“It was in there I thought that I had to take my family and leave. When they finally let me go, I started planning how to leave, I wasn’t going to be taken again and killed.”
The couple are now the proud parents of Ahmad, who is almost two years old, and little Sara, who was born just three months ago at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Mrs Muslamany said: “When we arrived here, we settled down and felt so secure and safe, and I feel like my family has a bright future.
“Aberdeen people are very, very nice, kind, polite and respectful to me and the other Syrians.
“They never make us feel different, and when Aberdonian people see my kids on the street, they stop and play and chat in a friendly play. It’s so good.”
