An image purportedly showing a Syrian refugee arriving in Greece with his beloved kitten in his arms is going viral.
Wearing a backpack and a sling containing his precious furry cargo, the man has an expression of pure relief on his face.
The picture, which was reportedly taken on the island of Lesbos, was shared on Greek website Protothema and is being touted as a ray of light in an otherwise bleak humanitarian tragedy.
This is love, this Syrian refugee couldn't bear to leave his kitten behind, so it came with him.
— Catterati (@iambagpuss) September 11, 2015
This Syrian family brought their beloved cat to Greece ♡ @Refugees_Gr #Lesvos #EuropeSaysWelcome pic.twitter.com/KXIlRD96kU
— Tamara (@tamara_vdP) September 10, 2015
A Syrian refugee made it to Greece with his kitten. Not a single soul left behind! :) #refugeesGr pic.twitter.com/v8R9WHbLmL
— Manos Moschopoulos (@maledictus) September 13, 2015
Syrian refugee brings his kitten all the way to Greece. you don't leave loved ones behind! #refugeeswelcome pic.twitter.com/fuOBd2wRTk
— Joey Taylor (@northernmagpie_) September 12, 2015
Little is known about the man - though according to sources on Twitter the kitten is named Zeytouna - Arabic for 'Olive'.
Around 11 million Syrians have fled their country amid violence meted out by dictator Bashar Assad and the Islamic State terror group.
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