Omid - Afghan Gay Man - Relocation Fund
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Hi Everyone thanks for taking the time to read this my is Carl Owens I am a 28 year old based in Dublin, Ireland - I am raising money on behalf of a young 25 year old gay man named Omid based in the city of Kabul in Afghanistan (GoFundMe is not available there) so he can travel safely and legally to Turkey and begin his journey away from persecution and risk of being killed for being who he is.
From speaking to Omid life in Afganistan is very bleak from the terrorist attacks on his city of Kabul to the constant threat of being killed if his friends or family discover he is gay, he is expected to marry a woman soon as he is getting into his mid / late twenties. Omid has shared with me that he has already attempted suicide, no one should have to live like this and, this is what spurred me to try to help him.
I met Omid online a few years ago and have been following his story via Instagram. I have not included a photograph of Omid here just in case somehow it were to circulate back to his community via other platforms, however if anyone feels they need more info / verification pls contact me.
Here is a message from Omid he sent to me to post here.
Hello,
My name is Omid. I am from Afghanistan and I live in Kabul. I am graduate in Law and I am 25 years old.
Afghanistan is a war-torn country and we experience explosions, suicide attacks and the impact of the Taliban war on a daily basis. Moreover, I am a gay. I face dangers from war, but also the threat of death because of my sexuality. Politically, religiously and socially I feel like an outcast in my own country. As a result of the hardships I face each day, I attempted suicide in one occasion, I cannot see a way out.
My greatest desire is to leave Afghanistan to begin a new life abroad in a safe and tolerant society. Unfortunately, money is the biggest factor preventing me from doing so. I've started this page in a bid to raise enough money to make it possible for me to leave. Anything you are able to contribute would be a huge blessing and I thank you in advance.
Your friend,
Omid
Every little helps here and for the price of coffee and a sandwich you are contributing directly to giving a young man a real chance in life, in an otherwise very dark situation - so please give as much as you can.
It is illegal to be gay / LGBT in Afghanistan if you are discovered the punishments can he anything from extreme persecution, fired from employment, kicked out from the family home and even killed, he has attempted suicide now on two occasions and I have being trying my best to keep him seeing hope and light at the end of the tunnel, it is so alien for me that a young man full of life and potential is in such a dark and desolate place because of the fear that his own family could kill him if they discover his true self, he desperately wants to be himself and get away from this country.
Although Turkey inst the most LGBT friendly place in the world you can still comfortably be gay there without fear of death and it is the first step on his journey to get him out of a very bad place.
From speaking to Omid life in Afganistan is very bleak from the terrorist attacks on his city of Kabul to the constant threat of being killed if his friends or family discover he is gay, he is expected to marry a woman soon as he is getting into his mid / late twenties. Omid has shared with me that he has already attempted suicide, no one should have to live like this and, this is what spurred me to try to help him.
I met Omid online a few years ago and have been following his story via Instagram. I have not included a photograph of Omid here just in case somehow it were to circulate back to his community via other platforms, however if anyone feels they need more info / verification pls contact me.
Here is a message from Omid he sent to me to post here.
Hello,
My name is Omid. I am from Afghanistan and I live in Kabul. I am graduate in Law and I am 25 years old.
Afghanistan is a war-torn country and we experience explosions, suicide attacks and the impact of the Taliban war on a daily basis. Moreover, I am a gay. I face dangers from war, but also the threat of death because of my sexuality. Politically, religiously and socially I feel like an outcast in my own country. As a result of the hardships I face each day, I attempted suicide in one occasion, I cannot see a way out.
My greatest desire is to leave Afghanistan to begin a new life abroad in a safe and tolerant society. Unfortunately, money is the biggest factor preventing me from doing so. I've started this page in a bid to raise enough money to make it possible for me to leave. Anything you are able to contribute would be a huge blessing and I thank you in advance.
Your friend,
Omid
Every little helps here and for the price of coffee and a sandwich you are contributing directly to giving a young man a real chance in life, in an otherwise very dark situation - so please give as much as you can.
It is illegal to be gay / LGBT in Afghanistan if you are discovered the punishments can he anything from extreme persecution, fired from employment, kicked out from the family home and even killed, he has attempted suicide now on two occasions and I have being trying my best to keep him seeing hope and light at the end of the tunnel, it is so alien for me that a young man full of life and potential is in such a dark and desolate place because of the fear that his own family could kill him if they discover his true self, he desperately wants to be himself and get away from this country.
Although Turkey inst the most LGBT friendly place in the world you can still comfortably be gay there without fear of death and it is the first step on his journey to get him out of a very bad place.
Organizer
Carl Owens
Organizer
Dublin
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