Refugee Mother Tells Of Police Brutality

An interview package produced for the Subversion #1312 program/podcast.  The Balkan route is the path many refugees choose or basically are forced to take to get the safer countries in Europe. It is a hazardous journey which involves crossing the sea and remote dangerous areas on land. Also as this mass migration from war torn and brutal countries continues to grow it has prompted countries along the Balkan route to shut their borders, and deploy police to enforce them. Bosnia has emerged as a new underground route for travel to Europe. At least 7000 have arrived in the country this year. Bosnia does not have adequate facilities to accommodate this number of people. Remembering their recent conflict some Bosnians are sympathetic to the travellers but many don't want to be reminded of the pain they endured during the civil war in the 1990s. The Bosnian government is becoming less and less welcoming, with the foreign minister saying last last month the country can not become a migrant reception centre. Our correspondent Riot Turtle from Enough is Enough is in a camp near the Bosnia/Croatia border, with Cars of Hope building facilities for the camp and helping in whatever way they can. He is also doing interviews and reports and sent me this interview with an Iranian mother, who with her family is trying to reach Europe. As part of a small group the family crossed into Croatia, but were intercepted by police after a farmer reported them. This interview is distressing and listener discretion is advised. The mother's voice has been altered for her safety.