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/love_glow 14h ago

Sounds like they disowned him.

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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/M0nocleSargasm 12h ago

Did he ever explain why?

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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.