Afghan Refugee Thankful For Help From Police

TURLOCK – Samir Shirzad fled Kabul the day before it fell to the Taliban.

The city was his home for the last four years where he lived with his sisters and parents. Prior to that they lived in a northern province of Afghanistan until it became unsafe.

As the Taliban began to occupy his home, Samir took the opportunity to flee while he could, with the promise of supporting his family from abroad.

“Inshallah,” Samir said, which means “God willing.”

Through an organization called International Rescue Committee, Samir was able to flee Kabul and come to the United States. Within a couple of days, he was in Turlock hoping to find work.

“Tomorrow I have an appointment with my caseworker to apply for everything I need to work.”

Samir worked as an interpreter in Afghanistan. His English is very good, so he was able to quickly find jobs in logistics and construction. Often times he worked between US Military and their Afghan counterparts translating through various projects. Both of his parents are teachers. His father taught for 20 years, and his mother teaches at a local college.

With the Taliban takeover, some essential services have been cut off. Since he fled Kabul, Taliban fighters had gone to his father’s house looking for him, Samir said. His father told them Samir was dead and to leave the family alone.

“They only have about a week supply of food left,” Samir said. His need to find work is urgent to him.

“It is my wish to work. I would like to be a guard, or a driver, anything.”

Monday, Samir found himself at Donnelly Park enjoying the afternoon. He was approached by a man who had asked to borrow his cell phone to make a phone call. Samir agreed, but the man took the phone and ran.

Samir was able to call for help, and police responded within a few minutes. At around the same time, officers were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle that was taken from a cafe on Geer Road. The suspect who took Samir’s phone was sitting in the stolen vehicle.

The suspect fled as officers approached, but he was quickly apprehended. An ambulance was called for the man as he showed indications of being under the influence of a substance.

“He was acting very strangely,” Samir said. “He moved and waved his arms like something was wrong.”

Police were able to return the owner of the car to his stolen vehicle. Samir was very pleased with the response of the officers.

“In my country, maybe I would have seen my phone in ten days. Here, in ten minutes.”