Mehran Karimi Nasseri, an Iranian refugee, became a global symbol of statelessness after being stranded in Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport for 18 years. His saga began in 1988 when he attempted to travel to the UK but lost his refugee papers en route. Without the necessary documents to enter France or return to Iran, he was trapped in legal limbo. For nearly two decades, Nasseri lived in the airport’s Terminal 1, sleeping on benches, studying economics, and forming bonds with airport staff and