The Story of Ahmad*’s Journey to Freedom
By Raza Syed
London Post – In the heart of London, a 35 year old man sits quietly in a small, dimly lit room, his eyes reflecting the weight of memories from a home he was forced to leave. His name is Ahmad, and his journey from Afghanistan to the UK is one of survival, loss, and an unyielding hope to reunite with his family. ｜HINDI｜
Ahmad fled Afghanistan in 2021, just two weeks before the Taliban seized control. “I was terrified,” he recalls. “When they came, they would have killed me.” His crime? Working for a development and education organization that published schoolbooks for Afghan children. The Taliban accused him of promoting democracy, calling the books a Western conspiracy. When they sent him a warning letter, he knew his life was in imminent danger.
“I couldn’t even go to my own village,” he says. “They would have killed me there.” His wife, fearing for his life, made the painful decision. “At least you will still be alive,” she told him, urging him to flee. Ahmad’s departure was bittersweet—he left behind his wife and two children, including a newborn daughter he had never met.
The journey to the UK was perilous. “It was 100% dangerous,” Ahmad says. Traveling through treacherous routes, he often went days without food, surviving on leaves from trees. Smugglers dictated their every move. “We were under their control. They hurt us, swore at us, treated us like we weren’t human.” Along the way, he saw families desperate to reunite, facing horrors—women and young boys fell victim to brutalities, and those caught by border guards risked their lives.
After months of harrowing travel, Ahmad finally reached the UK by crossing the Channel in an overcrowded boat. “It was meant for eight people. We were more than thirty,” he says, his voice heavy. “I want to thank the British force that saved us. If they hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here today.”
On the same day he arrived in the UK, his wife gave birth by emergency caesarean. “I called home, but she was too weak to speak.” The separation has been agonizing. His eldest daughter doesn’t understand why her father is gone. “She always asks, ‘Where are you? Come home!’”
Ahmad claimed asylum upon arrival and was taken to a detention center, where he received five pounds and a phone to contact his family. Life in the UK was a struggle. He moved between hotels and shared accommodations, barely able to afford food, let alone anything else. “I wanted to work, to support myself and ease the burden on the government, but without a work permit, I felt trapped,” he says.
Two years after his arrival, Ahmad was granted refugee status. “I was in a shopping center when I received the call. It was life-changing,” he recalls. Yet, the elation was short-lived. Forced out of government accommodation within 14 days, he found himself sleeping in a dining room for two nights before a kind friend took him in. “Sometimes, when he has guests, I sleep in the car,” Ahmad admits.
Despite the hardships, Ahmad remains hopeful. He now has a job and dreams of building a future. But his biggest wish remains unfulfilled—to bring his wife and daughters to safety. The legal process is painfully slow. It took six months just to get Afghan passports for his children, and his wife endures daily stress from authorities questioning his absence. “It’s been three years. A husband and wife can’t survive without each other,” he says.
Ahmad’s wife and children remain in Afghanistan, living under Taliban rule. His wife isn’t allowed to leave the house alone, not even to buy milk for their children. The stress is taking its toll. “My wife has to ask others for help with even the smallest tasks. It’s unbearable,” he says.
Despite everything, Ahmad remains resilient. He dreams of contributing to the UK, proving that refugees seek not handouts but opportunities. “People think we come here for benefits,” he says. “But no one leaves their home unless they have no choice.”
He calls for a legal pathway for refugees, not just for their sake but for UK security. “If there was a safe, legal way, people wouldn’t risk their lives. The UK could check who is coming. Most are women and children, vulnerable and in danger,” he explains.
Ahmad’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. He dreams of a future where his family can join him, and he can contribute positively to British society. “One day, I hope to do something good for this country. And one day, I hope to hold my children again,” he says.
His message is one of hope and understanding. “I want the world to stand with Afghanistan and all those in danger. There shouldn’t be any difference between refugees and how people from different countries are treated. I want equality for everyone, whether they’re from Ukraine, Afghanistan, or anywhere else. They should have the same rights.”
As I prepared to leave, the sorrow of being separated from home and family was evident in his eyes. I silently prayed for a world where peace prevails, so that no one would ever be forced to part from their loved ones due to oppression, injustice, or the need for safety.
Note:The name “Ahmed” and the location mentioned in this article are fictionalized for the sake of protecting lives.
This article is brought to you by London Post, in collaboration with INPS Japan and Soka Gakkai International, in consultative status with UN ECOSOC.INPS Japan