July 2025 – A young Afghan refugee studying in Türkiye faces a daunting deadline as his student visa is set to expire and a return to his home country almost certainly means death.
Ilham, a pseudonym to protect this 25-year old’s identity, came to Türkiye about four and half years ago to escape an abusive father and the Taliban, which discovered Ilham worked as a linguist for the American forces. He can only stay in Türkiye on a student visa as long as he is in school. Ilham is set to complete his degree by the end of 2026.
“Then I either should have made my way to Europe, or I will be deported to Kabul where all deportees are investigated by Taliban intelligence anyways,” said Ilham. “After that it’s finding your body in some ditch after being questioned and tortured for months.”
Limited Options and Rising Danger
In 18 months Ilham must find a way to a safe third country. A possibility already made harder by the rise of right-wing governments, including Türkiye.
“I must find another country to move there on a visa or cross the border as a migrant,” he explained.
But he noted barriers to single males. Ilham said his experience so far demonstrates it is easier for families or women to attain migrant/refugee status than a single male.
“I wouldn’t get that chance in Turkey, but I may get it inside EU, particularly France,” he said.
This is made all the harder for Ilham knowing the Americans promised him expedited immigration status in return for his service. But America (as did many Western nations) abandoned Ilham and all other Afghans who helped.
Broken Promises from the West and Barriers to Building a Life in Türkiye
Worse now, noted Ilham, is that President Trump axed the programs that would have helped him.
“I worked for them, I risked my life and believed their promises,” he said. “And now I am left behind with no cover.”
Türkiye is proving to be a difficult adopted home. Last year Ilham began an online electronics business re-selling second-hand components to assist people and businesses repair computers and other electronics.
Initially, he was allowed only to conduct business within the borders of Türkiye. He hoped he could expand. But since then, Ilham said red tape, regulations and animus to Afghan refugees shut down the company.
“Most financial and business apps require identity verification,” said Ilham. “And they request Turkish national ID cards, which I do not have because I am not a citizen here.”
“Even though I have a residence permit here police bother me every day,” he continued. “I went to Istanbul to update my passport, and police, without any legitimate reason, asked for explanations.”
Living Without Access to His Own Money
“Even if I have foreign currency in in my bank account, I cannot get it without paying so much fees that just taking lira make sense,” he explained. “So even things that I own I cannot always get.”
Banks in larger cities than his are even more of a problem. He says it largely doesn’t matter because of Turkish state control of the bank.
“This bank is Turkish national bank. It belongs to government, so they do whatever they want,” he said
Even without the business, Ilham, as do other refugees, face currency issues and exorbitant exchange rates. He said that forces him to use Turkish lira even if someone transfers him Euros.
Ilham gave an example of 500 Euros (about 23,400 Turkish lira) being hit with a hefty charge to change it to local currency. He’s also limited to an ATM withdrawal of 7,500 lira per transaction.
Rising Costs and Failing Health
Staggering Turkish inflation – 35% in June!! – continues to eat into his meagre income. His rent recently increased from 1,110 lira to 4,500 lira. Ilham shares his sparsely appointed apartment with a young Afghan refugee who is in the country illegally.
And Ilham’s medical woes continue. His roommate often brings him food and water when he is too ill to leave the apartment.
Ilham used to depend on expired medicines which were cheaper, but Ilham said they are harder to find. He regularly assesses which medications require the most urgent care and puts his money there. That means suffering from his other untreated conditions.
“If I get my ADHD medication I can’t get my stomach medication,” he explained. “Or my PTSD medication.”
Mostly his ADHD goes untreated but sometimes it’s a painful stomach ailment. But he picks and chooses depending on his tolerance and the money.
Years of stress are affecting his medical condition
Ilham’s medical conditions prevent him from doing long physical labour. Blood pressure, allergies, ADHD and other ailments plague the young student.
The work available to him is very physically intensive, which isn’t an option.
“I can sometimes not even walk because of some neurological issues in my extremities,” said Ilham.
A dark irony lies beneath Ilham’s plight. When he was about 12 years old in pre-Taliban Afghanistan, he played an abused child in a EUPOL (European Union police) co-production with Afghanistan. (The educational film is still available on YouTube.)
“It was about the rights of children according to Afghan Constitution and international law,” he explained. “It was used to train security forces and civilians alike.”
In the film Ilham plays a child abused by his uncle; abuse Ilham knew only too well from his family. The abuse made Ilham question his Islamic faith even as a child. Sadly, when his father learned of Ilham’s doubts the abuse intensified. Even now in Islamic Türkiye Ilham must hide his faith from students and neighbours. But to this day Ilham is proud of the film and what it tried to accomplish.
One Reason to Keep Going
As for keeping up his spirits within his dire situation, Ilham has found comfort and solace in a new friend.
He recently adopted a rabbit.
“So I am responsible for him and so I should live – no matter how hard things get.”
Ilham needs funds for daily living as well as saving up to move to a safe country where he is free to believe what he wants, study what he wants, and live how he wants. Please consider a one-time gift, or, if you are able, a monthly donation.
