24 hours from freedom, refugee MMA fighter Ezatullah Kakar is told he would not be leaving detention for a new life in the US
- Pakistan-born kick-boxer remains in Papua New Guinea refugee housing after around 30 of his friends are cleared to leave
- The 28-year-old has been in detention since 2013, having fled his homeland after being harassed by militants
Refugee martial arts fighter Ezatullah Kakar was 24 hours from freedom – but just as he packed his bags for a new life in the United States his dreams were dashed for the second time in two months.
The Pakistan-born former world kick-boxing silver medallist stayed behind in Papua New Guinea after saying goodbye to around 30 fellow detainees who were cleared to board Thursday’s flight to the US.
The refugees and asylum seekers were headed for various destinations in America and Kakar was supposed to have joined them on his way to Raleigh in North Carolina. But one day before his departure, he said a US representative in PNG told him he would not be going.
“They told me I was due to arrive in my city on Eid [the Muslim festival to celebrate the end of Ramadan] and I was so excited,” he told the Post. “I was told exactly where I would go, even the name of the street. I checked everything about the place and searched for all the gyms in the area.
“And when I got the call that I could not go, I was very upset. But that lasted one day. I try to be a positive person and I’m happy for my friends who managed to get on the flight. They felt bad for me but I’m confident that one day I will be free.”