Dear Friend,
My name is Rustam. I was born in Afghanistan, but am now living safely in Canada because of people like you who support Immigration Equality.
As a young, effeminate boy living in Afghanistan, I was ridiculed and beaten up by my classmates and members of my family. It was hell.
I didn’t understand why, but when I finally googled the word “bisexual”, everything clicked.
I knew I needed to leave Afghanistan and was lucky to secure a Turkish student visa. While Turkey was better than Afghanistan, I still had to be very careful.
Unfortunately, my relative security did not last long. Three years after leaving Afghanistan, the Taliban took control of the country. Life was already unbearable for people like me there, but under Sharia law, being LGBTQ is a death sentence.
Friend, my story is similar to thousands of other LGBTQ people across the world. When you give to the Immigration Equality Rapid Response Fund, you are giving the gift of life to someone just like me. Will you give today?
Shortly after the fall of Kabul, I was told I had just 18 months before Turkey would send me back to Afghanistan. I then began frantically seeking a way out. Thankfully, I found Immigration Equality. Their Legal Director, Bridget Crawford, wasted no time helping me apply for refugee status in Canada. After countless hours of work, I was accepted and am now living safely in Canada!
I am not alone. Since the Taliban's takeover, Immigration Equality referred more than 60 Afghans for resettlement, 28 of whom now live safely in Canada. They are fighting to resettle even more people like me, who are stranded in countries near Afghanistan that are fundamentally unsafe.
This work was new for Immigration Equality, but they were determined to save LGBTQ Afghans. They took it on because they saw an urgent need and an opportunity to help. The Rapid Response Fund will enable them to pivot immediately when they see opportunities like this.
Help Immigration Equality respond to the urgent needs of tomorrow by giving today.
Thank you,
Rustam |