Souleman was rescued from a rubber boat in distress, along with his wife Layla and 2-year-old son Cillian, during the maiden voyage of the Sea-Watch 4. On his first night spent safely on deck of the rescue ship, he requested a pen and paper, to write a letter. He said he had a message for Europe. The letter he wrote, and the interview he subsequently gave, are a direct call to European governments from his perspective.

Souleman is not a talking head for MSF. He speaks for himself, communicating the issue from his perspective.

Search and Rescue capacity is desperately needed at the world’s deadliest sea border, yet European governments are blocking NGO rescue ships from saving lives. The Sea-Watch 4 has now been prevented from resuming lifesaving activities since the last mission disembarked 353 rescued people to a quarantine ship in Sicily on 2 September. It has been officially blocked in port by Italian authorities since 19 September.