Name: Hassan Reza Mohammadi

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, good English skills, experienced tailor and car mechanic, FULLY FUNDED.

Risk: At risk of being tortured and killed by the Taliban if returned home.

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

Hassan Reza Mohammadi, a Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, endured abduction and torture by the Taliban following his father's disappearance. Fleeing imminent danger, he embarked on a perilous journey to Indonesia by boat in 2014.

A skilled tailor and car mechanic, Hassan has been trapped in limbo since. Now, he seeks a lifeline – a group of five Canadian friends who can help him start a new life in Canada."

His Story

 Hassan Reza was born on May 15, 1993, in Jalrez district in Maidan Wardak province in Afghanistan.

The Hazara people of the region have long been targets of persecution and massacres because of their culture, religion, and love for education. Hassan’s father had a truck and he used to transport goods to different provinces of Afghanistan. Also, he used to carry items like oil and food for government forces and institutions multiple times. Hassan used to help his father transport goods.

One day in 2009, Hassan and his father were on the way from Hazarajat to Kabul. When they arrived in Maidan Wardak, Hassan got out of the truck to return home, and his father continued driving to Kabul.  

Abducted

Two days passed but there was no word from his father. Hassan and his family started worrying about his father. Hassan then decided to travel to Kabul and look for his father. On the way to Kabul, the vehicle Hassan was in was intercepted by some armed members of the Taliban. After inspecting everyone’s faces, members of the Taliban singled Hassan out of the car and let the rest passengers and car driver leave.

“I realized that I was identified by the Taliban. They tortured me several times.”

The members of the Taliban tied Hassan’s hands, blindfolded him, and forced him to accompany them towards nearby trees. On the way, Hassan asked them the reason for his being arrested, and members of the Taliban accused him and his father of working for the government and foreigners. They also claimed that the only punishment for Hassan was death.

Wounded

While being forced to walk, Hassan stumbled and fell multiple times which wounded him. After about 20 minutes, Hassan suddenly heard gunfire, and one of the members of the Taliban hit him hard in the stomach, resulting in him collapsing on the floor.

Hassan heard them telling each other to run away in Pashto. About five minutes later, he heard a voice ordering him not to move. It was one of the members of the Afghan National Army. They uncovered Hassan’s eyes, and after hearing Hassan’s story, they took him to Maidan Shahr and treated his wounds.

Leaving Home 

Later on, Hassan went to Kabul and checked the spot where his father usually parked his truck. Discovering that his father had not arrived in Kabul, he contacted his maternal uncle and shared everything with him. His maternal uncle gathered elders of the village and contacted the Taliban regarding his father’s whereabouts. The Taliban claimed to have photos of evidence that showed Hassan and his father as government collaborators. According to the Taliban, their punishment was only death. 

“Later on, I learned that my father had been killed by the Taliban, and the Taliban had been searching for me too.”

Hassan had no way but to leave the country immediately to save his life. He left the country but could not find a permanent place to live peacefully.

Journey to Indonesia

In the year 2014, he returned to Afghanistan, thinking he would be able to live peacefully again. Unfortunately, he learned that he was still on the target list of the Taliban. With the help of his friend and relatives, he found a people smuggler, and on July 31, 2014, he went to Quetta, Pakistan by land. After staying at a people smuggler house for about 9 days, he went to Karachi by land and then on to Malaysia by plane on August 10, 2014. From there, he was brought to Indonesia by a dangerous boat, and eventually, he arrived in Jakarta on August 23, 2014.

Detention Centre

On August 25, 2014, Hassan registered himself with the UNHCR. Due to not having the right to work or a way to support himself in Indonesia, he went to Makassar Immigration Centre to ask for assistance. On September 23, 2014, he was transferred to a detention centre in Balikpapan. While being detained, Hassan kept himself busy learning English and doing regular exercise.

Freedom

On February 27, 2018, he received his freedom and was transferred to a community house in Tanjung Pinang. Since then, he has been living there.

As a refugee, Hassan cannot work, get a proper education, drive and travel to another city. He is a professional tailor and an experienced car mechanic. He says:

“My dream is to resettle in a country where I can use my skills and contribute to society.”

There's Hope

There is a way for Hassan to get freedom and live a new life in Canada. Since he is officially certified as a refugee by the UNHCR – unlike the vast majority of the world’s refugees – he qualifies for Canada’s private sponsorship program. Another good thing about him is that he is FULLY FUNDED.

If you would like to sponsor him – or if you’re just interested in helping to bring him here – please contact his friend Stephen Watt on Facebook.

You can reach out to Hassan Reza 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!

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