Name: Mohammad Qasem Ahmadi

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, good English skills, hairdresser.

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

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

Needed: A group of five friends to support him.

After Escaping from the Taliban’s prison, Mohammad Qasem fled to Indonesia by boat in 2014 to seek a peaceful place. Unluckily, he was kept inside a detention centre for more than 3 and a half years, but he spent his time wisely. While living there, he learned hairdressing from other refugees.

He now hopes to be helped by a group of five Canadian friends who can help him start his life again in Canada.

His Story

Mohammad Qasem was born in January 1991, in Nawur district in Ghazni province in Afghanistan.

The Hazara people of the region have long been targets of persecution and massacres due to their culture, religion, and love for education. Qasem’s brother-in-law (his sister’s husband) had a petrol station in the city of Ghazni, and Qasem used to work with him there. Their customers were from different nations, Pashtun, Tajik and Hazara. One day in September 2014, Qasem’s brother-in-law went outside on his bike and did not return by the night. Thinking that he would have gone to his home, Qasem closed the station and went home, but he did not find his brother-in-law there too. He tried to contact him and his mobile was switched off. The next day, Qasem was at the station when two Pashtun men stopped their car and asked him to fuel the car.

“When I got close to the car, two other Pashtun men came out suddenly and threw me in the car by force. They were members of the Taliban”

Beaten and Tortured

After they tied his hands and blindfolded him, they took him to an unknown place where he met two other prisoners who were from the Afghan National Army. While beating and torturing Qasem, the Taliban kept asking him what his brother-in-law had told him about the Taliban. Qasem kept saying that he did not know anything but they did not believe him. Later on, they threatened him to tell them everything or else they would kill him the next day.

“On one hand, I was worried for my brother-in-law, and on the other hand, I was trembling with fear knowing that I would be killed the next day.”

Qasem and the two prisoners decided to escape from there, and in the time of evening praying, they escaped through a small window. After arriving on the highway, Qasem went to Kabul by car. He then contacted his mother and she told him not to return home because the Taliban had been looking for him.

From Afghanistan to Indonesia

Qasem had no way to stay in the country because his picture and a copy of his National Identity Card were with the Taliban, and they could easily find and kill him, so he decided to go to a safe country. With the help of the hotel owner where he was staying, he arranged for a people smuggler, and on October 3, 2014, he flew to New Delhi, India, where stayed for 5 days. On October 8, he came to Malaysia by plane and stayed there for 4 days. On October 12, 2014, he was brought to Indonesia by boat.

Detained

After arriving in Jakarta, he registered himself with the UNHCR on October 15, 2014. With no right to work or way to support himself in the new country, he went to Balikpapan Immigration Centre to ask for assistance. On December 17, 2014, he was transferred to a detention centre that was overcrowded and badly ventilated, and refugees did not have access to proper food, enough water or a decent place to sleep. While living there, he learned hairdressing from other refugees.

His Situation Now

Finally, after more than 3 and a half years, he received his freedom from the detention centre and was transferred to a community house in Makassar on August 10, 2018. Since then, he has been exercising regularly to stay fit and healthy. Also, he has been improving his English skills. As a refugee, he cannot get proper education, work, drive and travel to another city.

Only Option!

His only option to live his life with freedom, get proper education and pursue his dream is to resettle in a safe country like Canada.

As a UNHCR refugee, Qasem is eligible for Canada’s private sponsorship program.

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

You can also reach out to him directly on Facebook – or through WhatsApp: +62-896-4307-9980.

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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