Murhaf Hamid, 11, has sold May flowers for over five million kroner.
On Thursday, he was invited to the Riksdag – but not to talk about the record sales.
– Some of you have decided that we will not get a residence permit, says Murhaf, who dreams of staying in Sweden.
On Wednesday, Murhaf’s mayflower sale ended, which after a viral post on social media reached over five million.
The eleven-year-old boy from Glimåkra, who despite being born in Sweden does not have a residence permit, was invited to the Riksdag by the Green Party on Thursday, and was given the opportunity to give a speech there.
– I have sold May flowers for a little more than five million kroner, but that is not why I am here today. I am here to talk about our situation, says Murhaf and continues:
– I am in the same house as a lot of politicians and some of you have decided that we should not get residence permits. I’m quite sorry about that.
Moved six times
Murhaf says that in his almost twelve years he has moved six times. He describes an insecure existence for the family consisting of a mother and three children.
– The Swedish Migration Agency decides where we will move, when we will move and to which house we will move. It feels hard to say goodbye to my friends.
Murhaf’s mother came to Sweden 13 years ago and from the beginning had the ambition to study to be a doctor. Today he is not allowed to work, as he is missing the last four digits of his social security number, which applies to the whole family, says Murhaf.
– I’m almost twelve and starting to understand what my life is like without a residence permit. Life isn’t exactly like it is for my friends.
“You treat us like an inferior family”
Without the last four digits, the family also cannot order things online and Murhaf, who dreams of becoming a soccer player, is not allowed to play with any soccer team.
– I live in one of the world’s best countries with rights and good rules, but it feels strange that you treat us like an inferior family. We would be happy if we had a residence permit.
The eleven-year-old addresses partly the Migration Agency, partly Sweden’s politicians, and wonders why it has taken so long. Why they have not yet received any notification.
– My siblings were born here and do not understand what is happening. Why we don’t get citizenship or maybe we don’t get to stay in Sweden? We do not know what will happen the next day, what the Swedish Migration Agency may say or do.
The family feels unsafe
All Murhaf wants is to become a Swedish citizen, get his last four digits and the chance to fulfill his dreams, he tells Sweden’s Riksdag.
– We don’t feel very safe here. We cannot feel safe in our own home. This is my home and my country and I know nothing else.
– I see mother struggle every day. I just want to be a normal boy with dreams who can live my life.