Please help our family friend, Nabil Kone, obtain asylum in the US.

This past summer my son Noah was lucky enough to have Nabil Kone as his camp counselor at Tamarak Day Camp. Noah and Nabil quickly formed a bond and before we knew it Nabil became a friend of our family. As we got to know Nabil we learned about Nabil's history and how he ended up in Deerfield, IL.

Nabil grew up in Mali, West Africa. As a school-aged boy Nabil showed great potential in basketball, and at age 15 went on scholarship to athletic schools in both Thailand and New Zealand. Nabil later received a scholarship for college basketball at Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL, where he has attended since 2021. Now 22 years old, Nabil has not lived in Mali with his family since he was 15 years old.

Growing up in Mali, Nabil was raised and surrounded by devout Muslims. Approximately 95% of the population in Mali is Muslim. As a child, when he was not playing basketball, he was studying Quaran. In his family and community, being Muslim was not a choice - it is an obligation. When Nabil had the opportunity to go to school in Thailand, he was first introduced to Christianity. He spent three years in Thailand surrounded by mostly Christian people. Afraid of his safety back home, Nabil did not acknowledge his Christian beliefs to his family. When he moved to New Zealand, his Christian beliefs became stronger and he chose to convert. Since that day, he has faced hatred, ridicule and criticism from his hometown family and friends. If Nabil returns to Mali, unspeakable physical and emotional consequences will ruin Nabil's life.

Just a month or so ago, Trinity University (where Nabil currently attends college on scholarship for Basketball) announced that they would be closing down all in-person classes and going fully remote. This will end all athletic programming, therefore revoking Nabil's scholarship. Nabil's visa will expire and he will be deported back to Mali, where his life is at risk due to his religious beliefs.

Nabil is seeking political Asylum in the United States and does not have the financial resources to cover his legal fees. He is a kind and special person, who has worked hard to make a better life for himself and those around him. Please help support Nabil by contributing whatever you can. We are literally saving someone's life by helping Nabil, and are also helping to foster the freedom of choice that we all view as a fundamental human right.