Case studies

Ashane’s story

Three years ago in Ashane’s* village in Sri Lanka, a violent rebel group announced that all the young men must fight with them. He recalls: “They caught me and I couldn’t get away. Some people joined willingly but most, like me, they just took.”

Dinh Tran’s story

At the age of nine Dinh Tran didn’t want to leave her homeland.

Chaman’s story

Like many members of the Hazara minority, Chaman Sha Nasiri fled his homeland to escape persecution. At the time, the Taliban had been hunting for young men to either recruit or kill.

John Jegasothy’s story

Reverend John Jegasothy fled Sri Lanka more than 20 years ago after facing violence and intimidation because he was part of the Tamil ethnic group. After being accepted as a refugee by the United Nations, he came to this country by plane via the official resettlement program and is now a proud Australian citizen.

Najeeba’s story

As Najeeba observes, “leaving your country for good is one of the hardest decisions you can be forced to make. It means a break with all that you know – your family, your livelihood, your friends.

Farida and Hussain Dad’s story

Hussain recalls his earlier life: "in Afghanistan, I was a shepherd and a farmer. We had a small house, very simple. We slept on the floor. Mostly we were happy with our life. All we really wanted was enough food and safety..."

Dinh Tran’s story

"When we left, my Mum and Dad had already accepted that we were all going to die. That is the only way you can do it. You are leaving everything behind, everything that makes you, you. You risk everything on a boat, it is so dangerous. You know that you might die, that your children might die. So the only reason you do it is that you have no choice. That to stay is certain death."

Hussain Dad’s story

"I am so thankful to Australia and all Australians. It is this country that has saved my family and given us peace and safety."

Najeeba’s story

"Asylum seekers carry sorrow and distress and depend on human sympathy. An asylum seeker is a kneeling person; kneeling in front of the captain of the ship to ask for a reduced escape price; kneeling in front of the aid agency asking to be saved."

Chaman’s story

"I don’t want anyone, any Australian, any non-Australian, to live the life I lived as an asylum seeker."

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