First Syrian cosmonaut lives in Turkey as refugee

Aslı Barış – ISTANBUL

The first Syrian cosmonaut who was sent to space now lives Istanbul as a refugee after fleeing the civil war in Syria with his family in 2012. 

Before leaving the war in Syria behind and moving to Istanbul’s Fatih district four years ago, Muhammed Faris was a well-known Syrian hero as he was Syria’s first cosmonaut chosen for a team to be sent to space as part of the Soviet Interkosmos Program in 1987. During his mission, he also made a speech praising then-president Hafiz al-Assad.  Upon his return, he received “Hero of Syria” medal from the president.  Teaching at universities for 10 years, Faris returned to the army and became a general in 2004. In 2012, he left his country with his family to take refuge in Turkey.  

“I have been living in Turkey for four years. We, as six people, live in a two-bedroom apartment in Kocamustafapaşa [a neighborhood of Istanbul’s Fatih district]. I attend conferences to share my experiences,” said Faris whose name was given to airports and streets in Syria after he accomplished his space mission. After having money, a house and guards, Faris said all his properties were seized when he left Syria. 

“It was a preference. Instead of living there as a ‘hero’ while my people are suffering, I preferred to live in tough conditions, in exile with my honor,” Faris said, citing his decision to move to Turkey. 

Working with ex-Syrian president Hafiz Al-Assad and in contact with the country’s current president, Bashar Al-Assad, until 2012, Faris said he was opposed to Assad’s methods and had stated that the opposition was right in some of its demands. He had also joined some meetings organized by the opposition. 

“But when the armed conflict started, I realized that a bullet could hit me too. Therefore, I came to Turkey with my family,” Faris said adding that he crossed to the Turkish border province of Kilis on foot. “Would I want to live in my country? The last time I saw it [Syria], it was a total ruin,” said Faris.

Faris was sent to space as a research cosmonaut with the spacecraft Soyuz TM-3. He spent seven days, 23 hours and eight minutes in space. Upon his return in 1987, he was given the “Hero of the Soviet Union” title and was awarded with the “Lenin” medal.  A speaker of Russian as well, Faris said he rejected Russia’s offer to resettle him and his family in the country. 

“...I rejected it, because they bombard Syria too. But my cosmonaut friends, Alexander Viktorenko and Aleksandr Pavlovich, who I went to space with are like my brothers. When you watch the earth from the same spacecraft, you become like brothers. This is a feeling that clears away all differences,” said Faris, adding that “The best view you can have there is the earth. Therefore the most relieving thing for cosmonauts and astronauts is to look at the earth... You look at it just like a baby looks at his mother... And you do not see any borders, no borders, no states, no difference... I wish they could send all bad people on earth to space. I am sure once they return, they would realize how beautiful it is and stop being bad.”   

Faris also touched upon the situation Syrian refugees living in Turkey, saying that he was grateful to Turkish people for opening their doors to the Syrians, but added that not all Syrians should be regarded as thieves or beggars. 

“In this wave of migration, people from all segments of society are coming [to Turkey]. There are professors as well as ignorant people. But Syrian people generally have occupations. They are not beggars. They would want to earn their money by working and they would work even if the wage is low, as long as Turkey knows how to benefit from these scientists and businessmen with occupations and diplomas. Last year, Turkey’s economy grew by four percent. Do millions of Syrians not have any contribution to this four percent? Turkey has spent millions of Turkish Liras for the Syrians in the camps and Syrians in the cities are paying back part of this by working,” said Faris. 

Faris recently attended Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Space, Aerospace and Defense Industry Council’s event where he shared his experiences with council members.