My name is Aisha Rahimi. I was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1992. I was a passionate advocate for women's rights and worked as a project coordinator for an international NGO focused on female education and employment in Afghanistan. Over the years, my advocacy made me a public figure, as I often spoke on radio and TV about the importance of women’s empowerment in Afghan society. However, my activism put my life in grave danger.

I worked for a well-known NGO supporting women’s education and employment rights from 2015-2019. During this time, I trained hundreds of women in business and literacy skills. I have been targeted for my activism. In April, 2019 I was directly threatened when I received my first written death threat from a local militant group. The letter warned me to "stop poisoning women's minds" or face the consequences. A year later, on May 13, 2020  a roadside bomb targeted my office. My colleague, who worked closely with me, was killed. I reported the attack to the police, but they dismissed my concerns and refused to provide protection.

In 2021 when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. All women’s rights offices were shut down. It was during this time when some armed men came to my home searching for me. I had already gone into hiding at a relative’s house but my home was ransacked, and my family was threatened. I was forced to leave everything behind because if I return, I will be killed or imprisoned.

The Afghan government is ruthless and their people are looking everywhere to persecute me and women like me. Seeking protection from them is impossible, and there is no safe place for me in Afghanistan. Even though I escaped to Pakistan in 2022, I do not have legal status here. I am living as an undocumented refugee, at constant risk of being deported back to Afghanistan. In Pakistan, I lack access to basic rights. My children are not able to go to school, and the local government has threatened to deport us twice already. The latest threat came in February of this year and we were told to leave the country by March 3rd. Living in fear and under constant threats of persecution and deportation has taken a severe mental toll on me and my family.
To support my claims, I have provided comprehensive documentation with my application, including psychological assessments detailing the mental health impact of experiences along with witness statements from my colleagues and family members.

My name is Mohammad Jameel. I was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. I lived there most of my life until I had to leave because life was becoming difficult. I decided to go to Kenya because I heard it was safer there. I crossed the border on foot and have been in Nairobi since. I don’t feel safe in Somalia because there is a lot of violence I think. I was scared, so I decided to leave. Somalia is dangerous everywhere. I couldn’t just move to another city because it’s all the same. The whole country is unsafe. I can’t go back to Somalia because it’s dangerous, but I also can’t stay in Kenya because I don't feel comfortable. I want to go to Canada because I think life will be better there. I don’t have any documents to prove my story. I left Somalia quickly, and I couldn’t take anything with me. I know what I’m saying is true, and I hope that is enough.