Ahmed’s Story
A 16-year search for safety
Ahmed was a member of the National Police Force in his country. He loved his job and he was good at it. However, he became the target of violent attacks and brutal torture at the hands of terrorist groups. His public criticism of the government led to him being discharged from the police force – and a warrant being issued for his arrest.
Ahmed fled the country alone, forced to leave his family behind. He arrived in Australia in 2010, where he was detained on Christmas Island and barred from applying for protection. Despite a 2011 finding that he was a refugee needing protection, Australia did not allow him to even apply for a protection visa, let alone grant him the safety he needed.
He would languish in limbo for seven years.
During that time:
He lost a lot of confidence in the fairness of the system and the ability for him to find protection
He experienced periods of homelessness
He was once again detained by immigration authorities
His mental health deteriorated significantly
Eventually in 2017, Ahmed was permitted to apply for a temporary Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV). In 2019, the Department denied his application – a decision Ahmed appealed.
The following year he was referred to RACS for free legal help. For years, all we could do was wait for his case to be assigned to a Tribunal member. A hearing date was not set until mid-2024.
As RACS lawyers prepared to represent him before the Administrative Review Tribunal, Ahmed’s mental health struggles and trauma continued to be hurdles in the protection process. Recounting the persecution he experienced in his home country was triggering to the point of being impossible for him to do.
“Years in detention and the endless waiting left deep scars on Ahmed’s mental health,” RACS lawyer Sophie Roden notes. “His trauma wasn’t just from the past — it was being prolonged by the system meant to protect him.”
Our team had to think outside the box to establish the necessary facts. We also had to be alert to incorrect assertions from the Department, who at several points claimed that Ahmed had lied to them or otherwise been inconsistent in the information he provided. Ahmed proved to be a credible witness and we were able to establish where the Department had missed or misstated information he had given them.
"Ahmed is principled and forthright — he knew the law and his right to protection,” Sophie says. “Even through 16 years of waiting and serious mental illness, he never stopped fighting to have that right recognised.”
Finally, Ahmed was granted permanency under the Resolution of Status policy in March 2025. It ended a 16-year ordeal through Australia’s asylum process.
“It is a mixed feeling, mixed emotions,” Ahmed says. [He points out that in the time it took for him to receive certainty about his future, Australia had had four elections and six prime ministers.]
“I feel emotions of happiness and relief. But at the same time I will never forget the journey it took to get me to this point. I will never forget all of what I have been through for the past 16 years.”
“I feel emotions of happiness and relief. But at the same time I will never forget the journey it took to get me to this point. I will never forget all of what I have been through for the past 16 years.”
On the significance of finally receiving a permanent protection visa, he tells us, "It means the world to me. I feel like I was in a big jail and now I am released. I can finally move freely."
Donate now to help us give people like Ahmed access to free essential legal help.
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Maryam
Maryam and her family arrived in Australia in 2012. With no protection, no support and no finances, the family’s situation seemed bleak. Read more to hear how RACS was able to assist Maryam to gain permanent safety in Australia.
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Jeanine
When Jeanine fled her home country in East Africa, she became separated from her two sons. After reaching out to RACS, she was granted a permanent visa and from there, was able to apply to be reunited with her children in Australia.
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Emil
Emil arrived in Australia alone in 2002, after fleeing religious persecution in his home country. When he reached out to RACS for support in applying for protection, he didn’t know that same support that would extend to another family member, many years later.
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Ali
At just 16 years old, Ali Haidari arrived in Australia alone, having fled his home country of Afghanistan. Ali was determined to build a future in Australia, but he understood that would be impossible without first being granted a protection visa.
