Syrian refugee recounts harrowing tale of bribes, threats, sinkings

For one Syrian refugee, the journey to western Europe has been a harrowing tale of thefts, bribes extracted by border guards and surviving two boat sinkings as he and those with him crossed open seas.

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As well, he says, "there were things I can't talk about in front of the camera."

Interviewed Thursday by CBC's Nahlah Ayed at Keleti station in Budapest, the 24-year-old refugee, Aladin, describes how he and his family managed to get through Turkey, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia to Hungary on their way, they hope, to Austria,then Germany and a new life.

What they seek, he says, is simple: "We want our smile to get back to our faces."

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