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   Florida teen heads home from Iraq

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AmberJ
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Florida teen heads home from Iraq
« on: Dec 30^th, 2005, 8:00pm »

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Teen skipped school for experiment in 'immersion journalism'

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A Florida teen who stunned U.S. officials by traveling alone to Iraq, was on his way home Friday, after finding himself in some "very dangerous situations," his mother said.

Journalism student Farris Hassan, 16, left the United States on December 11 without permission from his parents, who had planned to accompany him on a trip there next summer.

Hassan's mother, Shatha Atiya, said Farris had asked her for permission to travel to Iraq immediately "to see it firsthand, how are things transpiring" there. (Watch how Florida teen took an Iraqi vacation -- 1:15)

"He wanted to see how the people [feel] about democracy and the war in Iraq," Atiya said. "When he heard my negative response, he decided to take things in his own hands, I guess."

Atiya said her son is very confident and determined, and "wanted to act as [an] ambassador for democracy." (Full story)

The Associated Press reported that Farris was inspired to make the journey to Baghdad after taking a class on "immersion journalism" at Pine Crest School, a prep academy of about 700 students in Fort Lauderdale. Farris and his parents are of Iraqi descent.

"I think the word that would best describe [him] is blissfully ignorant of his surroundings," said Patrick Quinn of AP, which helped the teen contact the U.S. Embassy. "Farris walked into the most dangerous city on this planet -- especially if you are an unaccompanied American, let alone a teenager who doesn't speak any Arabic. I'm really stunned that he ever thought of coming here."

U.S. Consul General Richard Hermann announced Friday that the teen was en route home.

"I am very pleased to announce the young American citizen who has been in Iraq the past few days has safely departed Baghdad, and this young American is on his way back home to his family in the United States," Hermann said. He also reiterated the U.S. Embassy's strong warning to U.S. citizens against traveling to Iraq.

In an essay he wrote before his journey, Farris expressed his desire to help the people of Iraq and said he felt guilty for living in a large house in South Florida, driving a nice car, and hanging out with friends without the fear of suicide bombers.

AP reporter Jason Straziuso, who spoke to the teen in Baghdad, said Farris appeared to be bright, well-studied, with a strong social conscience -- but he should have researched his trip to Iraq more thoroughly.

"One of the last things he said to me ... was, 'Now that I've been here, I realize that if I walk down the wrong street, that I seriously could get kidnapped,'" Straziuso said. "So it is one thing to say 'I accept the danger' when you're back home and you're being idealistic. It's another thing to be here and know that the danger is all around you."

Atiya said Farris used his savings to travel to the Middle East -- unbeknownst to his parents until he arrived in Kuwait. (Route)

After his arrival, Atiya said she received an e-mail from her son, saying, "I'll be in Iraq for a while," but he did not say how he planned to cross into the country.

At his request, Atiya said she faxed documents to help him secure a visa, and after researching the fax number, she discovered he was in Kuwait.

The boy's father, Dr. Redha Hassan, told The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel that after Farris failed to cross into Iraq, he told his son he would arrange for security to accompany the teen once the Iraq border opened.

Hassan said if he had demanded his son come home, "it would leave a scar, disappointing him in his young life," according to the newspaper.

"I learned long ago that if you say no, they stick to the point and insist on doing it," he told the newspaper. "Nothing fazed him."

"He was in the middle of a market, he doesn't speak any Arabic and drew a lot of attention to himself," she said.

Atiya said she and her husband eventually lost contact with their son and contacted the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, which searched for the boy.

Ferris contacted the AP's Baghdad bureau and AP staffers contacted the U.S. Embassy, which sent soldiers to pick him up.

Threatening repercussions for his unauthorized Mideast jaunt, Atiya said she plans to keep a close eye on her son when he returns.

"Once he's back and safe in my arms, then, yes, he's going to be without privileges as you can imagine."

Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report

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Pocket
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Re: Florida teen heads home from Iraq
« Reply #1 on: Dec 31^st, 2005, 9:21am »

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This kid has too much money and not enough sense.

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AmberJ
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Re: Florida teen heads home from Iraq
« Reply #2 on: Dec 31^st, 2005, 9:26am »

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the one thing I dont understand is how his parents didn't know he was missing. When I was 16 there was no way I could go to the middle east by myself without my parents knowing

Plus it was not exactly the smartetst thing to do, esp. considering his parents said they would take them there when it was safe

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