Egyptian woman immigrates to Decatur

DECATUR — Odette Salib knows what the hunger for freedom feels like. A native of Egypt, the 79-year-old Decatur resident faced discrimination and persecution in her home country, not only due to her religion, but also her gender.

Less than 10 years ago, however, she made a decision that changed her life: She decided to immigrate to the United States, not only to be with her daughter and son-in-law, Mirna and Dr. Adel Hanna, and with her three granddaughters, but also to pursue a life she had never been able to have in Egypt.

“She had been coming here to visit us,” Mirna said of her mother. “But she always felt like she had to go back (to Egypt).”

During one of her visits to Decatur, though, Odette's mindset changed.

“I knew I couldn't go back because of the situation in Egypt,” said Odette, noting that she asked Mirna and Adel to get a refund for her return plane ticket.

“The discrimination in Egypt is high, and it's based on race and religion,” Mirna added. “We came from a Christian background, which is rare in Egypt, and as women, we were also discriminated against because of our gender. Justice was not there, and as an older woman, it just wasn't a decent life for her.”

In 2006, Odette received her green card, allowing her to live permanently in the United States with the Hannas, and on Feb. 10 of this year, she took an oath of allegiance and was sworn in as a new citizen at the Old State Capitol in Springfield. She was one of 60 people from 24 countries to be naturalized that day.

“The ceremony was very nice,” Odette said, as she and Mirna recalled the speech U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill, gave that day about opportunity and the different stories each new citizen has to tell. “I was so happy, and I think my friends were even happier than I was (that I was a citizen).”

Asked why she decided to become a citizen, Odette said the United States was the one place that truly felt like home to her.

“I feel comfortable here,” said Odette. “It feels like this is my place, and people are happy for you to be here.”

Mirna and Adel said they felt the same way when they immigrated to America.

“We both lived in Egypt and met each other there, but we left Egypt 25 years ago,” said Mirna of herself and her husband, who is an obstetrician/gynecologist at St. Mary's Hospital.

“Most people in Egypt are Muslim, and they didn't want a Christian doctor to examine the Muslim women,” said Adel. “It's completely different here (in the United States).”

The difficulties they face in Egypt prompted the Hannas lived in Ireland and England for about 10 years, allowing Adel to get his medical license and practice, but living in America was their ultimate goal, they said.

“America is the only country that respects every race and culture,” said Mirna, noting that she and Adel, as well as their daughters, lived in California and Michigan before making their way to Decatur eight years ago for Adel's job.

With three daughters of their own, Mirna and Adel also knew that the United States offered the most freedom and opportunities for them.

“We were always thinking about the futures of our daughters,” said Mirna, explaining that if they had stayed in Egypt, the girls would have faced discrimination not only because of their Christian religion, but also because of their gender. “They would have been treated as second-class (citizens).”

While marriages are no longer arranged in Egypt and women have more of an opportunity to be financially independent, Mirna said women there still face harassment and a lack of freedom.

“Women in Egypt today can wear regular clothes,” she explained. “There's no specific rule forcing them to be covered, but if they're out in public in regular street clothes after 6 p.m., they can definitely be exposed to harassment, especially if they don't wear a veil.”

The clothing a woman wears can also make her a target for religious harassment, Mirna added, “because people can know your religion by what kind of clothes you wear.”

Another large injustice Mirna and Adel feared their daughters would face in Egypt was a lack of education or job discrimination based on their religion and gender, something Sara, 26; Nada, 24; and Laura, 20, have never faced in the United States.

Sara is currently an attorney in Washington, D.C., Nada is in medical school in Ohio and Laura is attending the University of Illinois in Champaign, where she has thought about pursuing sports medicine.

“We didn't think they'd have these options in Egypt,” said Mirna. “Here, they take the girls as they are. It's like heaven.”

The same can be said of Adel and his job at St. Mary's.

“No one here questions my religion,” said Adel. “Here, everyone has the right to whatever religion they want.”

Odette and the Hannas are thankful for the freedoms and choices the United States has made possible for them, but said they fear for family members still living in their home country.

“Odette has two other daughters,” said Adel. “One lives in Australia, but one still lives back in Egypt with her husband and family.”

“I worry about her,” said Odette.

“It would be very hard for her to move and start over now, though,” Mirna added. “It was scary and really hard when we came to the United States. We didn't know anyone, but people appeared like angels and helped us. We were lucky.”

“I love the people,” Odette agreed, noting that she has also enjoyed meeting people through her volunteer work at church and St. Mary's.

Although Odette misses her daughter in Egypt, as well as the warm weather that the country normally experiences, both she and the Hannas agree that the United States is where they belong.

“Our story has a good ending,” said Mirna. “It was worth it to sacrifice for a better life, opportunities and no discrimination.”

“The best thing is when our daughters say they appreciate what we did for them to give them a better life,” said Adel.