A Paralympic cyclist from Afghanistan who is seeking asylum in the UK is struggling to walk on broken prosthetic legs after being denied new ones because he does not have refugee status.
Qaher Hazrat has been given a secondhand bike by a charity to help him get around but this week it was stolen from where it was locked outside his Home Office hotel, leaving him devastated and even more restricted in his ability to move around. It was one of nine bicycles recently stolen from that hotel.
Hazrat had both legs amputated below the knee at the age of 14 after being caught in the crossfire of fighting between the Taliban and mujahideen in 1996. He and others were sitting on a bridge when a bullet hit it and caused an explosion. Many of those who were with him were killed or seriously injured.
“I was taken to the hospital and the doctor said he had to amputate my legs because I had lost so much blood,” Hazrat said.
After the incident he was left in agony and despair until he was given a bicycle by an organisation in Afghanistan called Aabrar, which provided a means to restore his mobility. The International Committee of the Red Cross helped him to obtain prosthetic legs.
He had never ridden a bicycle before losing his legs but developed a love for cycling and other sports including rowing and shooting. He competed in an annual competition for disabled cyclists in his home country and won the first prize of a bicycle every year.
“Although I had no legs I used to beat the cyclists competing with one leg,” he said. “I always won the bicycle in that competition.”
He became one of his country’s top Paralympian speed cyclists, competing in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. He was involved with the Afghanistan Paralympic Committee and helped to train male and female athletes. He travelled to international competitions, supporting other athletes when he was not competing himself.
The Taliban takeover of his country in August 2021 meant it was no longer possible to continue with his sporting activities, and training female athletes was banned along with all women’s sport. He was attacked in his country and had to flee.
He arrived in the UK in February this year and claimed asylum. At the hotel where the Home Office is accommodating him in east London, he is struggling to move around because his prosthetic legs are so damaged. He has taped them up to try to minimise the cracks in them but fears putting too much pressure on them in case they split further.
“I asked the GP if I would be able to get new prosthetics but I was told I cannot get new legs while I am still in the asylum system,” he said. “I do not know how long I will be waiting for a decision on my case. I have just had my asylum interview with the Home Office.”
Basic prosthetic limbs cost about £3,000 and more sophisticated versions suitable for competitive sport can cost £10,000 or more.
The charity Care4Calais is supporting him in his hotel and has helped to establish a network of people among the asylum seekers in his hotel who can help him. It has launched a crowdfunder to help him get a new pair of prosthetic legs.
Lara Bishop, a volunteer at the charity, said: “Qaher has lost everything but he has displayed extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of great adversity. We’ve drawn a blank with the NHS who say they cannot help him until he has refugee status. If he is able to get new prosthetics it will restore his mobility and independence and help him to rebuild his life in safety and dignity.”
Hazrat said: “I miss my family in Afghanistan so much. My daughter is eight years old. When she was six she asked to be taken to the hospital. We asked her why as she was not sick. She did not understand why I did not have legs and said she wanted the hospital to cut off her legs so she could give hers to me. Apart from my family my whole life is sport. If I could get some new legs I could start training again. My dream would be to be part of the GB team for the 2028 Paralympics.”
Home Office sources said they do not routinely comment on individual cases.
