Name: Juma Haidari

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, good English skills, skillful tile mason, experienced as a bulldozer and forklift truck driver.

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

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

After escaping from the hands of the Taliban, Juma fled to Indonesia by boat to save his life.

Despite living in the detention centre for more than three years, he kept his hopes up and spent his time learning and exercising. He needs now a group of five Canadian friends who can help him start his life again in Canada.

Captured by the Taliban

Juma was born in 1990 in a village in the Jaghori district in Ghazni province in Afghanistan. After finishing elementary school, he worked at his father’s grocery shop until 2005.

Then, he began working in construction with his father, and in 2010, he and his father started working with the Ghazni Institute of Rural Development in Jaghori.

The Hazara people of the region have long been targets of persecution and massacres because of their culture, religion, and love for education. Juma used to work as a tile mason in constructing small hydroelectric dams. In 2013, his father was captured and killed by the Taliban. After his father’s death, Juma had to continue his father’s job. One day in 2014, he was on his way to Ghazni for bringing materials for the projects when he was captured by the Taliban. The Taliban tortured him several times.

“I can never forget when they said that they had killed my father because of working with the government and now they would send me to my father as well.”

Four days later, the Taliban brought four more Hazaras into their cell. The Hazara prisoners decided to escape from there through a small hole. Due to being tortured, it was very difficult for Juma to get out of the area but the other Hazara prisoners helped him and they together kept going until they reached a highway in the morning. From there, Juma went to Kabul by car.

Journey to Indonesia

After making it to Kabul, Juma contacted his home and told his family what had happened. His family told him to leave the country immediately to save his life. After arranging for a people smuggler, he flew from Kabul to New Delhi, India in September 2014. From there, he went to Malaysia by plane and then on to Indonesia by boat.

Life in Indonesia

After arriving in Jakarta, Juma registered himself with the UNHCR on September 29, 2014. Due to not having the right to work or way to support himself, Juma went to Pekanbaru Immigration Centre to ask for assistance. In November 2015, he was transferred to a detention centre in Manado where he was kept for three years. In November 2015, he was freed and was transferred to a community house in Batam.

His Purpose in Life

“I am a very diligent and honest person. I love to help my community.”

Juma is a very skillful construction worker in ceramic tiles and bricklaying. He is also experienced as a Bulldozer and Forklift truck driver.

Refugees in Indonesia have been told by the UNHCR that they will most likely never be resettled. This is especially true for single men, as women and families are prioritized for UNHCR sponsored resettlement. Integration in Indonesia is also not an option. Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention so refugees’ rights are not protected, hence they cannot work or access formal education. They live in a state of permanent limbo: they cannot go back nor move forward.

Last Word

Since the Taliban have taken over Afghanistan, Juma’s worries have been increased especially for Hazaras, the situation is very dire. He is also worried for his sisters who are not able to study and go out, and there is no one to help his family.

“I believe everyone has a responsibility for the betterment of the world which is our home. It does not matter how small or big the responsibility is.”

As a UNHCR refugee, Juma Haidari is eligible for Canada’s private sponsorship program. He needs a group of five Canadian friends to support him.

To help support Juma Haidari as a sponsor, please contact Stephen Watt on Facebook.

You can also reach out to Juma Haidari 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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