Escaping in the dead of winter

Eighteen-year old Noah was arrested, beaten and tortured by the Taliban for his
LGBTQ+ activism. After participating in a UK documentary, Gay Under The Taliban,
Noah was forced to flee for his life.

My escape was extremely difficult. My father arranged for a smuggler to take me to the
Afghanistan/Pakistan border in an ambulance, with fake ID and medical documents that
said I was traveling to Pakistan for treatment. It was in the dead of winter and I spent
three days stranded at the border in freezing conditions. I became seriously ill.

After finally crossing the border, I was illegal and penniless for over a month, with no
permanent place to stay. Some nights, I had to sleep outside. This was the lowest point in
my journey. I felt completely alone and hopeless.

Everything changed when I connected with Hive in November 2022. From that moment
on, Hive stood beside me at every step of my refugee journey. They supported me with
my visa process in Pakistan, helped me navigate the asylum system, provided me a
monthly stipend for food and rent at a safe hostel. Most importantly, they treated me with
dignity and compassion.

With Hive’s support, I was eventually able to reach Canada safely and begin rebuilding
my life. Hive did not just help me escape danger – they gave me a second chance at life.
Without them, I would not be alive and safe in Canada today. I’m honoured to participate
in Hive’s important work by sharing my story and helping to bring visibility to the
realities faced by LGBTQ+ Afghans.