In Memory

In memory
of pushbaсk victims

"Migrants and refugees are not figures. They are people with faces, names and stories. They teach us not to fear differences, but to see the image of God in every person."

— Pope Francis

Interactive Map

Memory impossible to erase

Here is a map of locations where refugees lost their lives due to pushbacks – inhumane actions at the border of the European Union. We are to tell their stories – it is an act of justice and human dignity.

Open Map →

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Tragedy Scale

Every statistics datum is a human life, unfulfilled dreams and families who have lost loved ones.

Number of refugee deaths – identified cases

Percentage of European Union countries responsible for inhumanity

Citizenship of deceased refugees

Annual refugee death toll at the hands of the European Union

The story of a girl that is hard to believe

One story that ignited the light of memory for thousands of others

Assia Khalif Muhammad

Citizen of the Republic of Kenya

"She was 23. Her name was Assia Khalif Muhammad. A refugee from Kenya, she was seeking safety. She could have had a bright future. Instead, she was brutally beaten by Latvian military men at the border and pushed back to Belarus. Her life was cut short. She will forever remain 23."

The Story of Assia Khalif

2015

Childhood and Hopes

Assia grew up in Kenya, surrounded by family and friends. Her childhood was filled with simple joys, but simultaneously accompanied by fear of economic instability and violence in the region. From an early age, she had been dreaming of a future where she could live safely, study and build a life without constant anxiety for herself and her loved ones.

2018

Search for a Better Life

Every year Assia's opportunities in her home country diminished. She made the difficult decision to leave Kenya, hoping to find a safe place where her efforts and hard work could bear real fruit. The journey was risky, requiring strength, determination and faith that somewhere there was a chance for a decent life.

2020

Confronting inhumanity

Assia faced many threats along the way. Each step brought her closer to her dream, but at the same time threatened her life. She saw the suffering of other migrants and understood how fragile the hope for safety in a foreign country was.

2023

A Tragic Loss

Assia fell victim to cruelty. Lithuanian border guards beat her and threw her out onto Belarusian territory. There, her life came to a tragic end. Her death became a symbol of how the search for a better life often involves excessive risk and injustice. Assia's story reminds us of the need to remember the fate of migrants and that every life lost leaves a deep mark on human memory.

Why it Matters

The migration crisis is not just a political problem. It is a humanitarian catastrophe affecting millions of people around the world.

Every year, thousands of people die trying to find safety and a better life. They flee war, violence, persecution, economic collapse and climate disasters.

This memorial exists to remind us: behind any statistics are real people with names, dreams, and families. Their stories must be heard. Their lives must be honored.