Mourning in Bad Oeynhausen: Community Tries to Grapple with the Tragic Loss of a Beloved Syrian Refugee

In Bad Oeynhausen, a community is in mourning after the tragic loss of Philippos Tsanis (20), a Syrian refugee who had been living in Germany for many years. The young man lost his life allegedly after being beaten to death by Mwafak A. (18). The victim’s mother, who had previously helped Ukrainian war refugees and even housed them in her home, is devastated by the loss of her son, whom she describes as her campaign for refugees.

In March 2022, the mother traveled to Poland to pick up refugees from Ukraine, motivated by her family connections in Ukraine and her refusal to sit idly by while others suffered. Philippos joined in the efforts by packing relief supplies into a pickup truck. Unfortunately, his life was cut short in a brutal act of violence allegedly committed by Mwafak A., a Syrian with a history of police investigations.

The community is left questioning how such a tragic event could have occurred after the crime took place in Bad Oeynhausen’s spa gardens where Philippos was killed. Mwafak A. was arrested by the police and is currently in a correctional facility for adolescents in Herford, North Rhine-Westphalia. The incident has left an indelible mark on the community and has sparked discussions about how to prevent such incidents from happening again.