Zaki Haidari

Jun 23, 2024 | mdpi.com | Zaki Haidari |Shehla Ahmad |Stephan Knipp |Iskandar Turaev

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Apr 11, 2023 | amnesty.org.au | Zaki Haidari

12 April 2023Zaki Haidari fled his home in Afghanistan in 2011, after his family was accused of helping foreign forces by the Taliban. Facing death threats, he left his family behind and became a refugee. After a long and dangerous journey looking for a safe country to call home, he finally made it to Australia; but he was not welcomed. Australia’s cruel refugee policy meant that for years he lived in limbo.

Mar 7, 2023 | smh.com.au | Zaki Haidari

Having fled Afghanistan, I arrived in Australia before July 19, 2013, when the policy relating to people who arrived by sea changed. An unfair and totally arbitrary distinction is being made between someone who arrived in Australia before July 19, 2013, who can now be granted permanent protection, and someone who arrived after that date.

Mar 7, 2023 | brisbanetimes.com.au | Zaki Haidari

OpinionOn a bitterly cold day in Hobart 10 years ago I sat opposite an Immigration Department official who told me: “Don’t be happy that you are living in the Australian community. This bridging visa only means you can stay in Australia temporarily.” I was warned the government was working to build capacity in offshore detention centres and would send us back when they had more room available.

Feb 13, 2023 | theguardian.com | Zaki Haidari

When I received the news late on Sunday night that the visa class I’m on is being scrapped so I can apply to stay in Australia permanently, I went straight to social media. I had to tell my network the news as soon as possible because I could hardly believe it was happening. Then the phone calls started. I was soon sharing tears with friends who have spent too long receiving bad news – we couldn’t comprehend that we would finally have certainty and agency over our futures.