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Man at the Airport: How Social Media Saved My Life
His only weapon was a cellphone.
When revolution and war broke out in his home country in 2011, Hassan Al Kontar was a young Syrian living and working in the UAE. A conscientious objector by faith and temperament, he refused to return to Syria for compulsory military service and lived illegally before being deported to Malaysia in 2018. Unable to obtain a visa for any other country, he became trapped in the arrivals zone at Kuala Lumpur Airport. Exiled by war and trapped by geopolitics, Al Kontar used social media and humour to tell his story to the world, becoming an international celebrity and ultimately finding refuge in Canada.
Man at the Airport explores what it means to be a Syrian, an “illegal” and a refugee. More broadly, it examines the power of social media to amplify individual voices and facilitate political dissent. Hassan Al Kontar was the first—but not the last—to galvanize international public opinion in his own defense.
When revolution and war broke out in his home country in 2011, Hassan Al Kontar was a young Syrian living and working in the UAE. A conscientious objector by faith and temperament, he refused to return to Syria for compulsory military service and lived illegally before being deported to Malaysia in 2018. Unable to obtain a visa for any other country, he became trapped in the arrivals zone at Kuala Lumpur Airport. Exiled by war and trapped by geopolitics, Al Kontar used social media and humour to tell his story to the world, becoming an international celebrity and ultimately finding refuge in Canada.
Man at the Airport explores what it means to be a Syrian, an “illegal” and a refugee. More broadly, it examines the power of social media to amplify individual voices and facilitate political dissent. Hassan Al Kontar was the first—but not the last—to galvanize international public opinion in his own defense.
232 pages, Paperback
Published May 24, 2021
11 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 4, 2025
A book gifted to me by a coworker with a powerful story
May 29, 2021
This is a really well written, fast paced, story of the craziness of borders. Hassan's superpowers are faith and tenacity.
He uses words, which are his only weapon, with humanity throughout his story. Like a very brave (and grounded!) father he is not scared to let them fly off on their own into the world of social media and, like a humble father, he readily admits when his words cause trouble.
But when Hassan weaves his words together in this book he paints a very clear picture of what it is like on the blurred edges of borders; borders which refuse to treat every person with equality, sometimes because of international politics and sometimes because of cruel individual power plays. Hassan can be assured that these words will bring about change. Someone will meet them in this book, make a connection, and help avenge another refugee.
Man at the Airport is a work of art, the author sits in the middle of a political quagmire, but is able to guide us through it with humanitarian eyes. You did a wonderful job Hassan.
He uses words, which are his only weapon, with humanity throughout his story. Like a very brave (and grounded!) father he is not scared to let them fly off on their own into the world of social media and, like a humble father, he readily admits when his words cause trouble.
But when Hassan weaves his words together in this book he paints a very clear picture of what it is like on the blurred edges of borders; borders which refuse to treat every person with equality, sometimes because of international politics and sometimes because of cruel individual power plays. Hassan can be assured that these words will bring about change. Someone will meet them in this book, make a connection, and help avenge another refugee.
Man at the Airport is a work of art, the author sits in the middle of a political quagmire, but is able to guide us through it with humanitarian eyes. You did a wonderful job Hassan.
November 20, 2022
A powerful story. I learned so much about the awful and complicated system refugees have to navigate to find a stable and safe place to live. Everyone should read this book! Hassan al Kontar is a great storyteller, full of humour even in his darkest times.
September 16, 2021
Hassan Al Kontar was stranded at Kuala Lumpur International Airport for 7 months. I first learned about his situation from a Vice documentary, and he then became viral through a NasDaily feature.
This book is very well written. It is his detailed account of the situation and leading up to being stranded. It provides an honest reflection and there were moments I did feel he truly wrote from his heart. It provoked reflection of what displacement means in the most profound ways.
I sympathized with his struggles but I admit I had a doubts, skepticism and discomforts about his attempts to sideline legal systems. But in the end, I genuinely think he fell trapped into economic, political and social systems not just by the situation in Syria, but he uncovered it on a global systemic scale.
Overall, I do believe the stigma and treatment of asylum-seekers as criminal need to be challenged and changed.
This book is very well written. It is his detailed account of the situation and leading up to being stranded. It provides an honest reflection and there were moments I did feel he truly wrote from his heart. It provoked reflection of what displacement means in the most profound ways.
I sympathized with his struggles but I admit I had a doubts, skepticism and discomforts about his attempts to sideline legal systems. But in the end, I genuinely think he fell trapped into economic, political and social systems not just by the situation in Syria, but he uncovered it on a global systemic scale.
Overall, I do believe the stigma and treatment of asylum-seekers as criminal need to be challenged and changed.
July 4, 2021
This was a great book. I am already a proud Canadian but even more so reading about how my country was a part of this story. We have our flaws but this book was thought provoking because it has me asking myself what more I can do? What can I do for others who come to this country that I love so much? Hassan…thanks for sharing your story and for taking a stand
July 26, 2021
An extremely interesting account of one man's journey through the tortuous maze of bureaucracy in order to follow his conscience to not serve in the Syrian military clash of disastrous civil war. To be true to his beliefs, he embarked on a nail-biting dive into prison hell (both literal and figurative) until finally rescued and offered asylum in Canada, where he now resides although his heart still longs for his home in Syria with his family that he cannot visit.
January 24, 2022
What an amazing story of hope, courage and faith. I saw a small headline a few months ago on the CBC News website and I was immediately interested. I didn’t research the story before I bought this book. I am so glad that I didn’t because I was able to experience this story for the first time.
Hassan is an inspiration and I wish him well in Canada. I hVr always been a proud Canadian and am even more so now after reading this story.
Hassan is an inspiration and I wish him well in Canada. I hVr always been a proud Canadian and am even more so now after reading this story.
February 8, 2022
I can’t imagine the despair and loneliness of being a person without right, without a country. The author provides a detailed account of his fight to gain a country and rights with only his phone, social media and his tenacity as is tools in this fight. This story will make you appreciate your good fortune of being a citizen of a country where rights matter.
June 14, 2021
I read this book within a couple days and it definitely touched me. My heart goes out to all the migrants struggling to find a safe place to land and call home.
July 27, 2021
Humanity
A story of humanity, its struggles, failures and successes. Hopefully Hassan Al Kontar has encouraged many to fight for what they believe.
A story of humanity, its struggles, failures and successes. Hopefully Hassan Al Kontar has encouraged many to fight for what they believe.
February 2, 2022
This book is riveting. I highly recommend it.
March 18, 2022
Very well written…so happy he was able to make it to Canada. Cannot believe how had it would have been
October 18, 2024
A book about the resilience of those who face injustice.
June 4, 2021
A haunting story of a youngman from Syria who finds himself stateless in countries that lack the compassion necessary to provide him with a home.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews