Baby Arsalan Arrives in Iceland: Emotional Reunion

It was an emotional moment when baby Arsalan arrived in Iceland Tuesday, after being separated from his mother for more than four months, Morgunblaðið reports. As we reported yesterday, the baby boy had to be left behind when his parents, Khairullah Yosu­fi and Zeba Sult­ani, fled Kabul, Afghanistan, in late August. In the crowd at Kabul Airport, the boy lost consciousness.

Tuesday, little Arsalan, now six months old, arrived in Iceland, along with his father, who had gone to Tbilisi, Georgia, to be reunited with him.

Arsalan’s journey began in Kabul, and from there he flew to Mazar, Afghanistan, then to Tbilisi, Georgia, then to Sweden, and from Sweden to Iceland. He came to Iceland in a group of 22 Afghan refugees, who will be granted asylum in Iceland. They are a group of so-called quota refugees, invited to Iceland by the State.

Arsalan’s father, Khairullah, explains that in Mazar, Arsalan had to be separated from Zeba’s mother, who had taken care of him since August. “I was a stranger in his eyes, and he cried a lot.” He states he is overjoyed to have his son back. He wishes to express his gratitude to Icelandic authorities and to all those who have helped the family throughout the whole process and journey.

Arsalan slept soundly in an infant car seat after the arrival at Keflavík International Airport. He didn’t stir until he was being brought to the car, which is when he saw his mother for the first time since their separation.

Zeba shed tears of joy when she first saw her son asleep, and beamed once he opened his eyes.

“I can hardly describe my emotions, but I’m very happy,” she stated. “I want to thank everyone who helped us.”