A Whole New World
Making your Instagram ‘on point’ may seem like a life and death situation - but in third world countries, thousands witness a real life and death situation daily.
It’s not because their Instagram isn’t up to scratch either – it’s because of their religion.
In the UK, we can express ourselves freely. We can believe whatever, love whoever and dress however. You can dye your hair bright pink, and no one will bat an eye.
On the other side of the world, people are being murdered for expressing themselves.
According to the UNHCR 2019, out of 33,000 applications made, less than half were granted asylum.
Aftab Kandara, 41, was one of the lucky ones. He fled Karachi, Pakistan, in 2011.
I grew up in a Christian family but spent my life in Karachi with Muslim friends.” He told me.
He has just bought his first ever house in Cardiff, after living in temporary accommodation for 8 years.
Although he is now settled in the UK, I could see the pain in Aftab’s eyes as he retrieved the memories of having to flee from the country he grew up in and loved.
“I had a good job with the city bank, and I married my wife Shahila in 2006.” He told me.
“Shortly after, I became a father to my first daughter, Kirsten.”
There was never any issue with Aftab’s faith - until his friend Sam’s son became sick.
Map of where Karachi is located, where Aftab grew up and lived.
Map of where Karachi is located, where Aftab grew up and lived.
Aftab with a photo of his wedding day
Aftab with a photo of his wedding day
Aftab married his wife, Shahila, in 2006
Aftab married his wife, Shahila, in 2006
“He had epilepsy and it wasn’t improving.
“Sam asked if I could get my priest to pray for his son. He is Muslim but he was desperate.”
“The family ended up bringing the son to the church twice a week.
“Eventually, Sam’s son started to get better and his faith in Christianity increased. He wanted to get more involved with the religion.
“The grandparents of the son thought I was trying to convert them to Christianity. This is blasphemy and illegal in Pakistan.
In Pakistan, blasphemy laws are used to harass Christians and many citizens protest for it be removed.
In Pakistan, blasphemy laws are used to harass Christians and many citizens protest for it be removed.
“They went to the mosque and told Mulla (the Islamic priest) that I was trying to convert their family and reported me to the police.”
Despite Aftab’s intentions being pure, his life was about to take a deep, dark turn the following Sunday morning.
“Me, my wife and Kirsten who was then 4 years old, sat down to have breakfast together.
"We heard a knock on the door.
“I thought nothing of it as my wife got up to answer.
"5 men burst in, holding guns.
“One pointed the gun to my head. My daughter and wife screamed.
“The man said ‘Aftab, you have committed a serious crime and we will not spare you’
“I explained that Sam wanted to go to the church. I wasn’t trying to convert anyone, I was just trying to help.”
“The men warned me that this wouldn’t be the end of things and left.
“Full of fear, I went to the police station and asked for help. They told me I should accept the consequences for my actions.
“They warned me it will be difficult to survive because a fatwa was issued against me (criminal act made against Islam). I felt lost now that the police wouldn’t help.
“I decided to move away for a while.
“On that same night, we drove 14 hours to Lahore. We stayed with cousins that I had there.
“Now that this fatwa was issued against me, I was in the eye of the Islamic Council – and they never stop watching.
“My family started receiving threats. There were posters in mosques around Pakistan, asking about where I was.
"If anyone had spotted me, I would be hung to death.
“My cousins were scared for us to stay for long, so we went back to Karachi after 5 days and hid at a friend’s house.
3 days after, I received a call from the Mulla.
“He told me ‘we know your number, where you work, your house and your parent’s house. You can’t hide any longer. Eventually, we will find you.’
“At this point, life had become unpredictable and I didn’t know what was around the corner."
A week after, a new threat became the turning point for Aftab.
“I received a call” Aftab stammered. “They said they found out which school Kirsten went to, and if I didn’t hand myself over, she would be kidnapped and ‘in trouble'"
Aftab didn’t ask the men to elaborate what ‘trouble’ Kirsten would get in - but he didn’t need to.
It was only in February, in Saudi Arabia, when 6-year-old Zakaria Al-Jaber was repeatedly stabbed in the neck with broken glass until he was beheaded, in front of his helpless mother.
Zakaria Al Jaber
Zakaria Al Jaber
All for being the ‘wrong religion’.
I was shocked at how Aftab had managed to stay sane in this bizarre situation, with no easy way out.
“When they brought my daughter in it, I realised I couldn’t carry on hiding any longer” Aftab said. “We needed to leave the country. I visited the UK in 2007, and still had the visa.
“On the 14th September 2011, we flew to London and claimed asylum."We moved around hotels until they found us a permanent place in Cardiff.
“My problems were not over yet.
“The Home Office thought I made it up. They said ‘4 million Christians live in Pakistan. The leaders come to the UK and say everyone has freedom.
“I guess it’s easy to believe what Islamic leaders say when they come here - you don’t see why they have reason to lie.
“It took 5 years for the Home Office to approve my case. I guess it’s because of the high volume of asylum cases they receive.”
Despite this, the UK is home to only 1% of every 25.9 million refugees. Just check out the graph below.
I spoke to Dr Mark Finney, who studies religion and conflict, about the current refugee situation in the UK.
Aftab and his family now, in their new house in Gabalfa, Cardiff. Left to right: Shahila, Jayden, Jaynel, Aftab, Kirsten and Joshua.
Aftab and his family now, in their new house in Gabalfa, Cardiff. Left to right: Shahila, Jayden, Jaynel, Aftab, Kirsten and Joshua.
Aftab with Joshua and Jaden
Aftab with Joshua and Jaden
It's hard to live in a country where the culture is so different.
Aftab can relate to that.
“It’s not easy to leave everything you love.
“I lost my community, job and my social circle. I miss my parents.
“I don’t know anyone here and there are language issues.”
7 years later, Aftab and Shahila now have three more children: Jaden, Jaynel and Joshua.
“We’re still struggling but when I see my children here, I feel at peace knowing we’re safe.
“I was lucky I could come to the UK, some refugees have nowhere to go. UK citizens do not realise how lucky they are.
“My parents still get threats and had to move away from Karachi. People were coming to the house breaking glass and putting up scriptures against Christianity, on the door.
“It’s an Islamic state, and the law is against minorities like Christians. There’s a reason why they are called third-world countries- they are not protecting anyone.”
