‘Forced to flee my country’: Omer Malikyar’s incredible journey to graduation day
Posted June 22, 2023 10:40 am.
Last Updated June 22, 2023 6:51 pm.
Omer Malikyar graduated from the University of Toronto (U of T) with a double major in Political Science and Canadian Studies, but the journey hasn’t always been easy.
“I was forced to flee my country in 2018,” the 24-year-old said.
Malikyar was born and raised in Afghanistan, but as a teenager, his human rights work gained the attention of Islamic Extremists.
“I went to summer camp in India, and when I came back, I tried to implement some of the things that I learned,” he explained.
“Like gender equality, democracy, these kinds of topics. I decided to contact some community service projects in my community. The conservative society I lived in had some backlashes, and I couldn’t continue. I was forced to flee my country.”
Malikyar says he was forced to leave his family behind to flee to the U.S., which presented a new and different set of challenges.
“I was there for a month, and then I couldn’t stay in the U.S. because that was when Donald Trump got elected. It wasn’t a good idea for me to stay in America, so I decided to enter Canada and seek asylum,” the 24-year-old explained.
Omer was born and raised in Afghanistan, but as a teen, his human rights work gained the attention of Islamic Extremists. Photo: CityNews submission.
In a new country, Malikyar decided to focus on his education. He went to Meadowvale Public School to complete high school and then opted to attend Seneca College. He’s now a graduate of U of T.
“It was always a dream to study in a good school.”
He says the moment is bittersweet because he has always envisioned his family by his side for this milestone. They will, however, be watching his convocation in Afghanistan via live stream.
In September, Malikyar plans to continue his studies at U of T. He’s getting his masters in Global Affairs, hoping to one day help refugees like himself.
“It’s been a long journey for me,” he admits. “So many obstacles and barriers in my way, but I’m really happy that I overcame all of those, and I’m happy to see this day.”
