Have you ever met a boat person?

By Katrina RoeTuesday 1 Oct 2013Hope MorningsSocial JusticeReading Time: 2 minutes

The issue of boat people can bring up strong emotions and opinions, but have you ever met one?

Dani Esmaeili, 34, is a Christian Iranian boat person who entered Australia via Christmas Island. Dani was forced to leave Iran when his home was raided, after he became a Christian.  Dani paid a contact at the airport $6500 to get him to Jakarta, where he joined a large group of asylum seekers looking for a new start.

One night, Dani was told by his contact that he would be put on a boat that night.  He didn’t know where he was going.  He spent 36 hours at sea, in a fishing boat with 65 other people.  

“I didn’t understand that this boat was to come to Christmas Island.  I came from a small boat to one a little bigger, and then I found that fishing boat in the middle of the sea,” Dani said.  “If I thought it was that boat, I wouldn’t have come.”

 “I just say, ‘Jesus, please help me.’  No way to go back.  In Christmas Island, I kiss the land,” he said.  

Dani is very grateful for the way he has been treated since arriving in Australia, saying that everyone from customs, to the police, to the church has been kind to him.  However, there have been challenges.  Dani is very much missing his wife, who is back in Dubai, and he would like to be able to work.   Because his English is good, he is already helping other asylum seekers to get settled.

Scott Taylor is Dani’s Aussie friend, and one of the Ministers at St Anne’s church in Ryde.  He met Dani when a group of asylum seekers wandered into their Sunday service.  He says many asylum seekers find it difficult to get a rental property with their limited English and their restricted budgets.  Scott says there are opportunities for Christians to connect with asylum seekers by helping them find rental accommodation, providing food and second hand clothing and teaching English.  He also says there seems to be a need for men’s Size 9 and 10 shoes, which are apparently hard to find!

“Australia is good.  I like the Australian people.  I’m very happy here.”

Audio – Listen to Dani Esmaeili share his story

Audio -  Scott Taylor talks about how Christians can reach out to asylum seekers