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My friend Ali has been navigating being queer in Iraq his whole life. Growing up, Ali was a victim of sexual abuse by his father which changed the trajectory of his life. He had to navigate a world in which his humanity is demonized, while also being silenced and unable to speak up about the sexual, physical, and mental abuse he was being put through under his own roof.
Ali had graduated high school and pursued his passion for medical school in a different country. During his break he had returned to Iraq and his sexuality was discovered by his father through his search history. Ali was subjected to conversion therapy and imprisoned in his own room only with a way out through his mother who sent him away in a car. He made his way back to the country he resides in after escaping to a safer area in Iraq.
Ali has no financial support currently, barely surviving on a job he has for a remainder of 2 more months where he is paid a mere $150 a month and a residence permit that expires in less than 6 months. He was cut off financially by his parents and expelled from his medical school because he could not afford tuition anymore. His job will fire him in 2 months as his job is dependent on him being in medical school.
The lives of Trans and Queer Iraqis have always been ones of hardship, invisibility, and turmoil, but things keep getting worse as the years pass by. Recently, Iraq approved an amendment to their prostitution law that now criminalizes the existence of Trans and Queer Iraqis with prison sentences. Queer Iraqis can face up to 15 years in prison. In a world where our safety is guaranteed nowhere, we must fight for our siblings in every place in this world.
He cannot return to Iraq, not only because of this amendment, but also because his family being in high positions grants him no semblance of secrecy nor safety in Iraq.
Ali is desperately trying to seek asylum in a different country that acknowledges his right to exist as the current country he resides in also criminalizes his sexuality. Ali needs to apply for a visa which already poses great difficulty as the Iraqi passport is very weak in terms of granting entry to other countries.
He has tried to connect with tens of organizations to no avail and has been shut down by so many because he does not reside in the countries they operate in. We cannot afford to keep waiting anymore. Ali needs help now.
He needs to raise funds for visa applications, resettlement funds after seeking asylum, and support for his journey to finding a pathway back to medical school so he can continue his dream of becoming a doctor.
Trans and Queer people have their dreams and lives taken from them every single day. We must stick together and we must show up for all of us everywhere. Every Trans and Queer person deserves a chance at life.
Let's help Ali achieve his dreams and survive. He deserves to get out of survival mode and experience life.
Ali had graduated high school and pursued his passion for medical school in a different country. During his break he had returned to Iraq and his sexuality was discovered by his father through his search history. Ali was subjected to conversion therapy and imprisoned in his own room only with a way out through his mother who sent him away in a car. He made his way back to the country he resides in after escaping to a safer area in Iraq.
Ali has no financial support currently, barely surviving on a job he has for a remainder of 2 more months where he is paid a mere $150 a month and a residence permit that expires in less than 6 months. He was cut off financially by his parents and expelled from his medical school because he could not afford tuition anymore. His job will fire him in 2 months as his job is dependent on him being in medical school.
The lives of Trans and Queer Iraqis have always been ones of hardship, invisibility, and turmoil, but things keep getting worse as the years pass by. Recently, Iraq approved an amendment to their prostitution law that now criminalizes the existence of Trans and Queer Iraqis with prison sentences. Queer Iraqis can face up to 15 years in prison. In a world where our safety is guaranteed nowhere, we must fight for our siblings in every place in this world.
He cannot return to Iraq, not only because of this amendment, but also because his family being in high positions grants him no semblance of secrecy nor safety in Iraq.
Ali is desperately trying to seek asylum in a different country that acknowledges his right to exist as the current country he resides in also criminalizes his sexuality. Ali needs to apply for a visa which already poses great difficulty as the Iraqi passport is very weak in terms of granting entry to other countries.
He has tried to connect with tens of organizations to no avail and has been shut down by so many because he does not reside in the countries they operate in. We cannot afford to keep waiting anymore. Ali needs help now.
He needs to raise funds for visa applications, resettlement funds after seeking asylum, and support for his journey to finding a pathway back to medical school so he can continue his dream of becoming a doctor.
Trans and Queer people have their dreams and lives taken from them every single day. We must stick together and we must show up for all of us everywhere. Every Trans and Queer person deserves a chance at life.
Let's help Ali achieve his dreams and survive. He deserves to get out of survival mode and experience life.