| Case:Ilham from Afghanistan Start date: march 7, 2021 Support: living costs and support to get a permit to stay somewhere Budget needed: monthly €350 for living costs plus budget for a permanent solution Ilham is a member of this community. If you want to get in touch or have a question for him, you can ask him directly via his profile page. |
The earthquake makes life for undercover ex-muslims even more difficult
March 2023 – When the earthquakes hit Turkey recently Ilham was struggling with illness and “didn’t even realize what was going” when his shaking building woke him up.
“I was sick and had a fever,” Ilham told SUN.
Asleep in his bed, ill, and confused with a fever, a natural disaster prevented him from leaving his eight-storey building. Ilham, a pseudonym to protect his real identity, is a 23-year-old Afghan refugee who has rejected Islam. He fled Afghanistan to escape his family and the brutal regime that would kill him for his lack of belief. Ilham had provided assistance to the U.S. forces in Afghanistan, which made him even more of a target by the Taliban.
He stayed in his ground-floor apartment for a while but decided he should go out to see what happened. It was then that authorities told people to stay outside. Temperatures were below freezing in Tokat Province where Ilham lives. He got out of the building before the second earthquake hit.
“We had to stay outside the whole day. We were told not to enter buildings,” he said. He had a jacket to keep warm but his legs were freezing.
Eventually, the authorities allowed people to shelter in a one-storey store. Even then, Ilham faced the racism against Afghans he lives with daily. Authorities only allowed Turkish nationals in the shelter at first. “Foreigners” like Ilham had to wait their turn. Ilham must hide from everyone that he is no longer Muslim. But during the crisis of the quakes people had other things on their minds.
“People were terrified. No one really cared who is who,” explained Ilham.
Ilham returned to his apartment that night.
“It was an apocalyptic experience,” Ilham said of living through the quakes. But he always feels safest in the apartment where he lives alone.
“It’s like isolation. But I am fine with it,” said Ilham. “I would rather be alone than with people who hate me or potentially want to hurt me.”
Ilham struggles daily with necessities and medications for his chronic medical conditions. The quakes worsened the situation, as certain foods, such as bread and other supplies, were hard to get. As well, electricity and Internet connections were unstable.
The Turkish government does not consider Ilham a refugee. He stays in the country by virtue of his status as a student under a temporary resident permit. Ilham recently applied for a scholarship in Europe in hopes that could be a way out. He says the university lowered his marks to prevent him from leaving. Non-Turkish students who received the scholarship in the past sought asylum and did not return.
“I am not a refugee but I am not a Muslim either and [The Turkish government] will use any excuse to get rid of me,” said Ilham, who worries about the government deporting him to Afghanistan.
In the meantime, the earthquakes have temporarily closed his university. As he struggles to contend with a natural disaster, he must also contend with his illnesses. Chronic gastritis, Eczema and allergies continue to plague daily life.
“Death doesn’t make me nervous – life does.”
His goal is to leave Muslim theocracies for a safe Western nation that will tolerate his break from his Muslim past. Ilham needs help with fundraising and legal assistance to achieve his freedom. You can help Ilham reach his goal by donating to support his daily needs and eventually give him the freedom he deserves.
