Black Birds 2017-2018

A photo series about gay prostitution among straight refugees that take place in Tiergarten park in Berlin, Germany. The majority of the park refugees were ethnic Shia Hazaras from Afghanistan, a minority long persecuted by the Taliban.

 

Many Hazaras flee to Iran, where they grew up not allowed to go to school, work legally or get any documents.They thought by coming to Germany, they will have a better life.

 

The German government prioritises assistance to refugees from countries with an ongoing conflict. Asylum seekers from non-conflict countries are placed in the second category. Their papers take longer to complete, and they are more likely to get deported. Nevertheless,   during this waiting period they are not allowed to work or attend school that would improve their future prospects.

 

They always were outsiders, with few or no options to prosper. Most have been undocumented their whole lives.

 

They start going to the park searching for belonging in same language speaking community, then they get involved in drugs then involved in prostitution to fund the drugs.