Name: Mohammad Salim Nazari

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, good English skills.

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

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

After Mohammad Salim’s father was killed, his paternal uncle, who had power in the country, took over their land and started torturing Mohammad Salim. His uncle’s son was a reporter of the Taliban and he threatened Mohammad Salim to death.

He had no choice but to flee from the country, so he fled to Indonesia in 2014. While living in a detention centre for a year, he learned English and the Indonesian language. He has been dreaming of becoming a businessman and helping society in the future.

His hope now is to find a group of friends who can bring him to Canada where he can support his family and pursue his education.

His Childhood

Mohammad Salim was born on January 1, 1999 in a village of the Jaghori 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. In 2008, his father was killed on the way to Iran.

“The reason for his death was not obvious according to my mother but after my father, everything changed.”

Threatened and Tortured

Mohammad Salim was living with his brother, sister and his mother.

After his father’s death, his paternal uncle took over their land and properties.

Mohammad Salim was put as a shepherd by his paternal uncle.

“He tortured me a lot and even I was lashed. He kept me hungry because I was the only elder kid in my family.”

While being in his uncle’s captivity, he and his family members starved for days and nights. They were not able to raise their voice because his paternal uncle had power in the town where they were living.

Mohammad Salim’s cousin had a shop in the village, and he used to bring goods from Ghazni to his village. The way was very dangerous for Hazaras, so his cousin started spying for the Taliban and reporting everything to them for his safety.

After returning from Ghazni, his cousin used to torture him and his family every time.

“He used to show me his picture with the Taliban and threaten me to death. I was so scared of what he was able to do with me and my family”

Leaving Family Behind

Thinking that Mohammad Salim could ask for his father’s land one day, his paternal uncle with his son used to whip and torture him repeatedly. It was obvious that he would be killed by them. So, Mohammad Salim’s mother talked to her brother to get Mohammad Salim out of the country. His maternal uncle arranged for a people smuggler and sent him to Kabul in November 2014.

“I didn’t want to leave my family behind, but I was their prime target as I was the elder son of my father and could possibly take my father’s land back one day.”

His Journey to Indonesia

After staying in Kabul for one week, he flew to New Delhi, India then he flew to Singapore and had a transit there. From there, he flew to Indonesia on November 9, 2014.

His Life in Indonesia

On November 13, 2014, he registered himself at the UNHCR office in Jakarta and stayed for two weeks in Bogor.

As he didn’t have any supporter nor he had the right to work in Indonesia, he moved to a newly built detention centre in Kalimantan Island, Balikpapan. He lived one year inside the detention centre and then he was transferred to a community house in Makassar City.

“During that one year, I faced a lot of difficulties and challenges, but I believed that the worst and bitter days teach the best lessons of life.”

Mohammad Salim couldn’t speak English and Bahasa (Indonesian Language) when he came to Indonesia. But he kept himself busy in learning and he can now speak both languages very well.

His Hopes and Dreams

Mohammad Salim’s dream is to be a businessman and to bring happiness to the faces of all needy and vulnerable people in the community. The most important part of everyone's life is happiness and he has found himself to be a helpful and kind person to others. He believes that helping others gives him happiness and satisfaction. He hopes that his dream will come true one day and he will be able to live in peace and have loving friends around.

The Opportunity

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

“It has been my dream since my childhood to be able to improve society, devote my life and help others.

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

You can also reach out to Mohammad Salim 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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