Omar (left) plays darts at home with his partner Nader. The two Syrian men lived together in Turkey, where they met, for almost a year, until the following day when Nader departs for Bergen, Norway, where he has been granted political asylum.
Nader (left) puts a ring on Omar's (right) finger after he accepted Nader's marriage proposal during Omar's birthday party in Istanbul, Turkey.
Nader and Omar are a Syrian couple that met in Istanbul, Turkey, as refugees. After living together in the city for over a year, Nader was then resettled to Bergen, Norway. Despite being engaged, the two may never see each other again, in the best case it would be years in the future.
Six months of uncertainty followed for Omar, stuck in Istanbul, until the call from the UNHCR finally came for him to join his fiancé in Bergen.
The pair were not allowed to marry in their homeland or in their temporary host country, Turkey, leaving their files separate. For a heterosexual Syrian couple, the situation would have been much easier, and months of worry, pain, and tears saved.
After lobbying the Norwegian authorities, the two made their case to Nader's social worker in Bergen, who helped push for Omar and him to be reunited.
This series of images follows the couple's relationship from Istanbul, Turkey in 2015 to Bergen, Norway in late 2016. A rare positive story from Syria's LGBT refugee diaspora, one with a happy ending. Love was finally won!
#LoveWins
Omar (L) and Nader (R) play with their cat at home in Istanbul, Turkey, July 2015
Nader Turkmani waiting for friends as they climb the Fløyen mountain surrounding Bergen, Nader's new home after receiving political asylum in the country in early 2016.
Nader at the top of the Fløyen mountain, overlooking Norway's second city, Bergen, in the west of the country. Nader chats with Omar his fiancé in Turkey, who's due to arrive the following day.
Nader cleans his apartment the night before his fiancé Omar is due to arrive from Turkey. The couple have been apart for six months, aside from a short trip Nader made to visit Omar in Istanbul four months ago. After a lengthy period of uncertainty, Omar is finally due to arrive the following morning.
Throughout the night, Nader and Omar talk over the phone, here Nader video chats with Omar from his bed in the early hours of the morning. Omar's ticket was reserved by the IOM, but not purchased, leaving him stranded in Istanbul's main airport. Exhausted and in tears, the two spent a long night over the phone, comforting each other.
After months apart, Omar (right) and Nader (left) are reunited in Bergen, Norway. Nader proposed to Omar at his birthday party, shortly before being resettled to Norway, at which point it was uncertain as to whether or not Omar would be resettled to Norway
After months apart, Omar (right) and Nader (left) are reunited in Bergen, Norway. Nader proposed to Omar at his birthday party, shortly before being resettled to Norway, at which point it was uncertain as to whether or not Omar would be resettled to Norway
After months apart, Omar (rear) and Nader (foreground) are reunited in Bergen, Norway. Nader proposed to Omar at his birthday party, shortly before being resettled to Norway, at which point it was uncertain as to whether or not Omar would be resettled to Norway
Omar blows out the candles shaped in a heart and the letters O and N, for Omar and Nader, which Nader had set up prior to picking Omar up from the airport in Bergen, Norway. The couple will share Nader's apartment for the first few months until a larger place becomes available
On Omar's first day in Norway, Nader acts as his mentor and guide, since social workers are burdened with so many cases. They travel to the refugee introduction centre, police station, hospital and bank all in the first day, getting Omar papers, an ID number, his request for a Norwegian travel document and a bank account
Bergen, Norway as seen from Mt. Fløyen. (Composite image panorama)