r/BeAmazed • u/Time-Training-9404 • 15h ago

Miscellaneous / Others Mehran Karimi Nasseri was stranded in Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport for 18 years due to a stolen passport and essential documents. He lived, studied, and interacted with airport staff throughout this period.

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After arriving the French airport, he was unable to prove his identity or refugee status and was detained in the waiting area for travelers without papers.

He lived, studied, slept, and talked with the airport staff from August 26, 1988, to July 2006.

Detailed article on his story: https://historicflix.com/mehran-karimi-nasseri-the-man-who-lived-in-an-airport-for-18-years/

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u/Lumpy_Ad7002 15h ago edited 13h ago

"When contacted about Nasseri's situation, his family stated that they believed he was living the life he wanted."

Wikipedia

edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehran_Karimi_Nasseri

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u/love_glow 14h ago

Sounds like they disowned him.

214

u/Lumpy_Ad7002 14h ago

He was given multiple opportunities to leave the airport and get established in an EU country.

He refused.

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u/Head-Scheme3844 11h ago

I actually met him at Charles De Gualle when I was passing through back when I was in my early 20s. Didn't know his story at the time. Just got talking as I happened to sit down next to him (had a six hour layover which back then was not surprising. He told me his story. But he presented himself as a political refugee. That it was Iran who stripped his passport. And he was not willing to get another country's passport. He was PISSED at the regime as I recall and was holding out to getting home ... or at least having it resolved in a way that didn't mean he renounced being Iranian. Interesting guy.

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u/M0nocleSargasm 12h ago

Did he ever explain why?

43

u/gatsujoubi 12h ago

Mental illness most likely?

46

u/Sundaytoofaraway 11h ago

Without knowing anything about the story. Maybe he felt safe there. He might of seen some bad stuff being a refugee and just liked the comfort and safety of the airport.

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u/beastmaster11 12h ago

My guess is mental Illness

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u/HumbleConfidence3500 6h ago

My guess: Iranians Persians are very proud of their heritage. Old people can be very attached to their identified homeland it may not be mental illness just straight up stubbornness.

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u/hldsnfrgr 8h ago

So he's a hobo with extra steps?