I escaped the Taliban – the Borders Bill will criminalise Afghan refugees like me

Before arriving in Britain I shared a lorry with 70 people, was beaten, and slept rough for months – Coventry gave me sanctuary, helped me rebuild my life, and start a business, writes Shakib Nasery

Refugees evacuated from Afghanistan and given shelter in the UK (Getty)

This week marks six months since the Taliban took Kabul. For those fleeing my homeland, the situation grows more difficult by the day. The Nationality and Borders Bill will erode their rights. If it was in place when I sought asylum – I wouldn’t be here today.

I fled Afghanistan at the age of 16 after my father died as a result of months of torture by the Taliban. My brother and I put our fate in the hands of a smuggler who promised to get us to safety. We left my grieving mother behind.

The journey was torturous – we shared a lorry with 70 other people, all taking turns to share a hole the size of a pin to breathe through. We were beaten by police in Turkey. I travelled barefoot, with no coat or jumper in the winter, and slept rough for almost eight months.

We relied on acts of kindness along the way. In early February 2001, in the freezing cold, smugglers brought us to Paris. It was close to midnight and one of our group spoke with a receptionist at a hotel who knew our language. He offered to let us share a room until 5am, where we could shower and sleep, provided we had left by the time his manager arrived. That shower and floor I slept on felt like absolute heaven.

The next morning, members of a local church provided us with coats, jumpers and shoes. From there, we were put in the back of a lorry and taken to England, although I didn’t know that at the time. When the doors first opened, there were police with flashlights. I was terrified after my experiences with police elsewhere.

One of the policemen smiled at me and asked if I was from Afghanistan. I didn’t understand the language but knew enough to nod and we were soon taken to accommodation that was warm, and given clothes, food and water.

I’ve come a long way since then. I’ve learnt English, graduated from university, and I set up a successful restaurant in Coventry.

In 2011, my brother and I successfully managed to apply for my mum to be reunited with us in the UK. The moment I saw her again was the happiest day of my life – it was pure joy. I’m now married and have a beautiful son.

I am still incredibly close to my brother. We have a special bond that will never be broken after what we experienced.

Two years ago, I decided to sell my restaurant business so that I could work at the Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre, a wonderful place full of extraordinary people who supported me when I first arrived in the city. Now I help others to seek safety rebuild their lives.

The Nationality and Borders Bill will criminalise those, like me and my brother, seeking sanctuary, fleeing countries suffering terror and conflict. It will see those people separated from their families, in unsuitable accommodation, have their asylum claims deemed “inadmissible” and be prevented from feeling secure or safe.

Coventry has a long and proud history of providing safety and refuge to those fleeing war and persecution, it has helped more than 900 people resettle since 2014. Coventry City Council has publicly urged the government to throw out the Nationality and Borders Bill, which would erode asylum rights. The council is calling for a fairer, more effective asylum system built on reason, evidence, and compassion, which provides safe and accessible routes for those seeking sanctuary.

I, along with my friends at the council, believe that the only way to provide safer and more accessible routes to those seeking sanctuary is to speak and listen to those with lived experience of the system. Those who want to make a positive, more egalitarian world for all – regardless of where they come from or how they arrive – can share their expertise and knowledge.

I am proud of Coventry, truly a welcoming city of culture and opportunity. How many other local authorities can say the same?

Shakib Nasery is an employment officer at the Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre