His family were murdered by the Taliban, if he’s deported he will be too. Cardiff Humanists are fundraising so he can claim asylum
Rod (right) and Matthew McMaster (president of Cardiff University Humanist society) fundraising in the University students’s union foyer. Yalgoz did not want his photo taken for safety reasons. Photo courtesy of Matthew McMaster
Yalgoz, whose name has been changed for his protection, faces death as attempts to claim asylum from Afghanistan have been denied.
Because he rejects religion, the 23-year old asylum seeker’s life will be at risk should he be deported.
Cardiff Humanists are working to raise £2,500 in order to fund legal aid for Yalgoz’s case.
In Afghanistan, the abandonment of Islam is punishable by death, according to the 2017 religious freedom report.
Humanists believe that individuals should have the right to practice religion but that it should not govern society, said Rod Lawford, vice-chair of the group.
He said: “Society as a whole should be secular.”
Rod, 60, believes that Atheism is unacceptable in Afghanistan predominantly because it is not understood.
He first became aware of Yalgoz’s case when the young Humanist attended a group meeting about the relieving of religious oppression.
Rod has been working directly with Yalgoz and his solicitors as they take on a new application for UK asylum.
Yalgoz’s mother was murdered by religious extremist group the Taliban for educating girls, an action prohibited in much of Afghanistan.
If Yalgoz is forced to return, he will share his mother’s fate.
Afghanistan is not safe as a Humanist, said Yalgoz.
“Back in Afghanistan the Taliban will 100% kill me,” he said.
Cardiff Humanists are running a gofundme page for Yalgoz’s legal disbursements
To date, they have raised 34% of the total sum.
The University Humanists society is also hosting a fundraising competition for Yalgoz’s cause on the CU Humanists Facebook page.
The Cardiff University group launched the competition on 16 November. Photo courtesy of Matthew McMaster
From paintings to poems, the competition asks all those taking part for creative submissions within the theme of “What Christmas means to me.”
The competition is running until 3 December, entries are £1.50 each.