Name: Mohammad Amin Nasiry

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, excellent English skills, experienced as a volunteer teacher and interpreter, an experienced English teacher.

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

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

Mohammad Amin was sentenced to death by the Taliban for teaching the English language. While being transferred to the execution site, a police car interrupted the Taliban and Mohammad Amin found a chance to escape from there and fled to Indonesia in 2015.

Despite living in a detention centre for 26 months and being deprived of proper food and health care, he spent his time voluntarily teaching and interpreting. Also, he attended a number of classes.

His hope now is to find five Canadian friends who can bring him to Canada where he can pursue his education and make a positive contribution to society.

His Story

Mohammad Amin Nasiry was born on August 23, 1993 in a village in the Qarabagh district in Ghazni 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. Mohammad Amin was an ambitious English teacher who had big dreams and wasn’t afraid to pursue them. He was warned to death by the Taliban to leave his job, and he refused to perceive it as a grave threat.

Escaped from Death

On October 13, 2015, when he was heading Ghazni Bazaar to the institute, he was ambushed and arrested by the Taliban. He was captured and taken blindfolded to an unknown area and after a home trial, he was called mushrik and sentenced to death by decapitation in public to be a lesson to other people so no one would dare to teach English in an Islamic country ever again.

“I was scared to death and I thought it was over. no more dreams and family.”

Afterward, they put me in a car and drove to the execution site. However, on the way, a police car suspected the Taliban car and the fighting started.

“In the meantime, I thought to myself that death by a bullet would be easier than death by knife. Hence, I fled as fast as I could and found myself hiding behind a hill. This was when I realized that I was still alive and asked myself what to do next.”

Mohammad Amin got into a car which took him to a Hazara hotel in Kabul. There, a man saw him disturbed and ask him the reason. After knowing everything, he gave his contact number and promised assistance.

On the phone call, the man told Mohammad Amin that he would take him out of the country in exchange for money.

“I urged him to get in touch with my father and take the money from him. Also, I sent a message to my father saying that I was attacked by the Taliban and I was fine but needed to leave the country immediately.”

His Journey

Mohammad Amin stayed hiddenly at a house for a week, and after his passport was provided by the people smuggler, he flew to New Delhi, India on October 3. Then he took another flight to Malaysia, and eventually to Indonesia. He arrived in Indonesia on October 5, 2015.

His Life in Limbo

After arriving in Indonesia and registering with the UNHCR and the Immigration Office, he was transferred to the Kolekta hotel in Batam. From that day, he spontaneously taught English and helped other immigrants as a translator to express their concerns in the hospital and meetings with the staff of the IOM, the UNHCR, and the Immigration Office. After about a month, he was transferred to an immigration detention centre, which was the beginning of the worst days of his life.

“I missed my family those days and didn’t know even if they were fine.”

There were many health and food problems inside the detention centre but Mohammad Amin sought the positive aspects, having access to the free education system and having enough time to study and grow.

“I set goals to develop my skills and dreamed even bigger this time. So, I started teaching and studying. The classes I took were painting, psychology, computer, French, Sports and music.”

His Freedom

In addition, he continued his work as a translator and became a representative. He participated in programs including competitions to think less about his family because he did not want to put them in danger by contacting them.

After twenty-six months in the detention centre, he got his freedom and was transferred to Bhadra Community House in Tanjung Pinang in January 2018.

“I thought, my freedom was the beginning of my good days but with piles of rules preventing me from my basic right, I felt desperately alone and unable again.

During these three years, he participated in two film projects “Landless than the Wind” which are available on his YouTube channel and another channel, “The Paradox”. In addition, he participated in a translation course conducted by the UNHCR and a dozen of other classes.

The Last Word

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

“I am determined to make a positive contribution and sure that in the right time and place, I’ll achieve my dreams.”

To help support Mohammad Amin as a sponsor, please contact Stephen Watt on Facebook.

You can also reach out to Mohammad Amin 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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