Farris Hassan, a 16 year-old high school student in Ft. Lauderdale Florida decided to visit Baghdad Iraq as research for a class paper. source He is taking a journalism class and wanted to see for himself how democracy was taking hold in Iraq.

Hassan’s family are of Iraqi heritage, but have lived in the United States for more than 30 years. Farris is a junior at the exclusive Pine Crest prep school. He “bought a $900 plane ticket, cut class, sneaked away from his parents and headed to Iraq on a flight from Lebanon, saying that he was pursuing his interest in news reporting as suggested by his high-school journalism teacher.” I don’t think his teacher expected this level of research for the class, ha.

Hassan arrived at the AP office in Baghdad ready to work, but they called the “U.S. Embassy – where officials took custody of him and contacted his parents.” His mother had received an email from him, telling her where he was, why and ‘not to worry’.

Farris is now scheduled to return home in the next few days – although his father is quite willing to allow his son to continue his adventure, within certain limits.

Redha Hassan told the Sun-Sentinel that he gave his son the choice of coming home or going to Beirut for a week to stay with family friends, and then head to Baghdad once the border opened and private security could be arranged.

“I felt it would leave a scar, disappointing him in his young life,” Redha Hassan said of shipping Farris home. “I learned long ago that if you say no, they stick to the point and insist on doing it. Nothing fazed him.”

Farris’ mother had other ideas, saying he would be grounded, access to his money would be stopped, his Passport would be taken away from him, and other punishments administered. Go mom!

Companion post at Right Truth