Life in Denmark had promised safety and stability for Salma Naddaf after fleeing the chaos of Syria in 2014, but the 36-year-old social media influencer has now made a difficult choice: she is leaving the Scandinavian nation with her family.
The reason, she says, is deeply personal and rooted in her values.
“I had to make the hardest decision of my life,” Salma explained to her three million TikTok followers this week.
“I couldn’t accept my children growing up in a place where customs and traditions so different from ours are taught as the norm.”
Clash Between Cultural Values and School Curriculum
Salma’s departure comes amid growing concerns she expressed about Denmark’s approach to gender education in schools.
She highlighted a moment that tipped the scales: seeing the Pride flag raised at her children’s school and realizing that gender transition was being incorporated into daily lessons.
“Some may see it as freedom, but for me, I could not accept that environment for my children’s healthy development,” Salma said, explaining that this shift in education conflicted with her family’s values and beliefs.
Denmark’s Progressive Yet Restrictive Landscape
Denmark is widely recognized as one of the most progressive nations in the world regarding LGBTQ+ rights.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1933, and in 2014, the country adopted a “self-ID” law allowing citizens to change their gender after a six-month waiting period.
However, Denmark has also tightened its stance on asylum seekers and immigration.
In 2021, the country controversially revoked residence permits for some Syrian refugees, claiming parts of Syria were now safe to return to.
The government has even offered financial incentives for repatriation, providing approximately £24,000 per adult and £5,900 per child.
Salma’s family could receive around £66,000, though it remains unclear whether she applied for this aid.
Syria’s Political Shifts on the Global Stage
While Salma’s story unfolds in Denmark, Syria itself is entering a new phase of international diplomacy.
The country’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is scheduled to become the first Syrian leader to officially visit Washington later this month, according to foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani.
“This visit is certainly historic,” Shaibani said at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.
Key topics are expected to include the lifting of international sanctions, reconstruction efforts after over a decade of war, and counter-terrorism initiatives, particularly efforts against the Islamic State (IS).
Historic Diplomatic Milestones
Sharaa has already made significant international appearances this year.
In September, he addressed the UN General Assembly in New York—the first Syrian president to do so in decades.
Earlier in May, during a landmark visit to Riyadh, he met US President Donald Trump, who pledged to consider lifting economic sanctions on Syria.
The upcoming Washington trip is seen as another opportunity to solidify Syria’s role in global security and reconstruction initiatives.
US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, has indicated that agreements could be reached for Syria to join the US-led alliance against IS, marking a potential turning point in decades of conflict and isolation.
A Personal Choice Amid Global Change
For Salma Naddaf, however, global politics are secondary to her family’s well-being.
Her decision to leave Denmark underscores the tension many refugees face: balancing the safety and opportunities of a new country with the preservation of personal and cultural values.
As her story resonates online, it highlights the deeply human side of immigration and the difficult choices parents make for their children’s future.