Name: Ashfaq Hussain

Background: Pakistani (Shia Muslim)

Profile: Fluent spoken and written English, UNHCR-certified refugee

Location: Refugee detention in Makassar, Indonesia since 2013

Risk of returning: Death, arrest, torture

The Opportunity: Private sponsorship to Canada

Go fund me.

His story:

Ashfaq was just 16 years old when he had to be the hope for the family to find everlasting peace and freedom for their war ravaged home in Pakistan. Little did he know, he was going to be trapped indefinitely amongst the thousands of fellow refugees in Makassar, Indonesia. One hour’s flight away from Bali. He is a man with a heart of gold with one of the most modest, patient, and kindest people around.

How did it all come to this?

Ashfaq comes from a small village in Pakistan. As a child, he grew up happily and had no knowledge of the hatred and bigotry that bear Sunni against Shia. In fact, he had a lot of Sunni friends, and they coexisted. But things quickly began to shift when the Taliban started arriving in his village. In 2007, many armed groups (Taliban) came to the area. The government did not do anything while they were travelling through, nor did anyone stop them as they claimed to be Islamic pilgrims and said they had come to teach Islam to Sunni people. In reality, they were spreading hatred against Shia people. It's nearly impossible for them to escape with their lives. Taliban would come to threaten them with deaths to leave the village.

“They would bomb us. But we refused to leave as we had nowhere else to go. Then they began attacking our village. Many of the villagers were killed” said Ashfaq.

This had become a reality for most people in the area. And as they were running out of options for safety throughout the country as there were many animosity that they receive as a Shia Muslim, the family chose Ashfaq to be sent from my Pakistan to find safety and stability in another country. They called a smuggler and were charged about five thousand dollars. Ashfaq’s mother had to sell her dowries and my father’s heritage land and also borrowed some of my relatives' money to meet the smuggler's demand.

Ashfaq had heard that Australian were kind and compassionate towards refugees. They were offering new lives to refugees like myself, but his expectations turned when he finally discovered the truth. In 2013, he made his way towards Australia. Unfortunately, as he was going down through Indonesia, he was caught and arrested by the officials before he ever made it to a boat towards Australia.

“As soon as I landed there, I cried, why have I been put in detention? Was my previous suffering not enough?” said Ashfaq.

Like in Manus (PNG) and Nauru, where formerly thousands of refugees and asylum seekers are detained illegally for years, Australia has created a similar situation for us in Indonesia. Since 2013, around 14000 refugees have been trapped in Indonesia as Australia stopped the refugees coming by boat. Ashfaq was jailed in a detention centre for 2 years before eventually being released into community housing. Yet still, Indonesia does not recognize foreign refugee’s existence and basic rights. He’s refused an education and work opportunity in this country. He has been in limbo since 2013 with facing death at home and a rapidly deteriorating mental health situation which renders him not being able to make personal agency decisions to help himself improve and socialise well amongst others.

Ashfaq was just sixteen years old when he was forced to run for my life. He dreamed of bringing Freedom for his family in Australia and eventually pursuing his passion to become a pilot. He had lost his innocence, mental health, his dream and my hope for the future. Only because I am seeking safety from being bombed in Pakistan by the Taliban.

The Opportunity:

Ashfaq has a golden heart and he is a patient and dedicated man who is willing to do anything to help his family back home. He will make a wonderful addition to Canada. You can contact him through his Facebook page and read his story in Australian Piece outlining his biography, "My halted journey toward freedom ” and watch his video here:

His Video Story 1 & His Video Story 2

In 2018, his story was finally first heard through a filming by Alfred Pek, an Australian-Indonesian filmmaker who is making a documentary called Freedom Street. Ashfaq is featured as one of the stars. This documentary fully explores Australia’s long history of externalising its border protection policies towards Indonesia and beyond. Ashfaq finally had learned from the experts that he was arrested and detained in Indonesia because of Australia’s regional deterrent policies.

Please help! Every dollar brings us one step to our goal.

We are also building a team of sponsors to bring Ashfaq to Canada. He is looking to be able to have an opportunity to open more freedom for his family. If you would like to join, please contact Alfred Pek on Facebook.

If you're a Canadian, and interested to help support Ashfaq Hussain as a sponsor, please contact Stephen Watt (in Toronto) or Abdullah Sarwari (on Vancouver) on Facebook.

You can also reach out to Ashfaq Hussain directly on Facebook.

Reach out and discover how wonderful it is to privately sponsor a good person to start a new life – with your help – in Canada!

Thank you for your support. And help spread the word by sharing this post!