Preventing for a life: The Afghan refugees discovering hope in MMA | Taliban

Paris, France – When Parwaiz Arabzai is launched to the group at Hexagone MMA 6, he appears to be like the very definition of knowledgeable blended martial arts fighter. He has the wiry, muscled physique of a Conor McGregor or a Khabib Nurmagomedov.

He limbers up confidently and raises a gloved fist because the ring announcer yells into the mic: “Parwaiiiiz … Hhhhhharabzaiiiii!!”

Quickly, the 24-year-old is chasing Georgia’s Nika Kobaxidze across the mat, solely to lose within the third spherical by submission.

It’s a destiny that may await any fighter in a sport the place a break up second’s lapse could make your punching energy or your grappling expertise totally meaningless.

For Arabzai, whose skilled document now stands at 4-3-0 after that loss in January, defeat hurts greater than it does for many. He has no household to return to, no settled dwelling, no regular job. 9 years after he left Afghanistan as a teenage refugee, failing to make a profession as a fighter shouldn’t be an choice.

“Once I arrived in France, I used to be on the streets. Then I used to be in a shelter. Then after I began coaching, it was an awesome motivation,” Arabzai advised Al Jazeera after a sparring session in Paris.

“Now I’m professional, I’ve fought for various organisations, and I need to be an commercial for others as effectively – to indicate how vital sport might be.”

Arabzai’s achievement is already gargantuan – from being homeless in Paris to reaching MMA’s skilled ranks along with his contests broadcast worldwide on the DAZN channel. However even at this degree, poverty stays an enormous risk.

His first fights earned him about $1,000. Now, he’s simply skilled for 2 months for a combat that was meant to pay him $2,000 on June 3. Nevertheless it was cancelled on the final minute because of unhealthy climate forecast in Béziers within the south of France, the place the competition was to have been held in an open-air coliseum. The final time he fought was the defeat in Paris in January.

He nonetheless has to seek out the cash to pay for meals, a spot to stay, a coach, journey to his appointments with French social providers and medical bills.

When discussing his prospects, the weeks, months and years of fear slowly solid a shadow over his face.

“The opposite fighters, they are often at dwelling relaxed with their households, have some work, however my life could be very sophisticated,” he says.

“I had a brief contract working at an area grocery store, however I needed to cease as a result of coaching for this combat was very intense.

“I want a sponsor. I’ve to search for assist.”

‘I misplaced every part’

Whereas Arabzai picked up the game after arriving in Europe, lots of his compatriots used the 20 years between Taliban rule to advance MMA, and their careers, in Afghanistan.

A type of fighters was Sayed Waris Hashime, 25, who till 2021 was thriving at membership degree in Kabul. He gained a number of newbie belts, and he and his fellow fighters had been greeted by crowds of younger males on their return to Kabul from a contest in India.

When the Taliban took over once more in August 2021, MMA was banned, and fighters feared for his or her lives. Hashime says fighters he knew had been murdered.

Hashime was notably in danger, having been a soldier within the Afghan Nationwide Military and, he says, considered one of former President Ashraf Ghani’s ceremonial guards.

Hashime is now additionally in Europe. However in contrast to Arabzai, who competes for France, Hashime is basically stateless. He says his Afghan passport was burned by jail guards in Turkey. He fled to Switzerland, the place he’s now awaiting a choice on whether or not he can keep. He’s unable to work or pursue his ambitions for knowledgeable profession whereas his declare is processed.

“After the start of the Taliban, I misplaced every part. I ran to Europe to search for a secure nation for my future,” Hashime advised Al Jazeera in a video message on WhatsApp.

“I handed via many jails. I’m within the asylum process, and I need to thank Switzerland for saving my well being as a result of I used to be in a foul state.

“I stay in a refugee dwelling in a single room with as much as three different males. I obtain minimal social help to purchase meals. I’m in touch with organisations who assist me be taught the language. I practice alone within the park or with one one that helps me go to the health club generally as a result of I don’t have cash to pay for it.

“I hope they provide me a optimistic reply quickly to begin my new chapter of life right here as a result of in the intervening time my scenario could be very tough and I’m extraordinarily confused.”

‘All the pieces we labored for is at risk’

Baz Mohammad Mubariz, 33, who based the MMA federation in Afghanistan in 2008 and organised the Afghanistan Preventing Championship, is now residing and not using a visa in Thailand after escaping from Kabul.

He says his life was threatened in Afghanistan as he protested in opposition to restrictions on the nationwide MMA and martial arts federations that he presided over.

It was a battle he was heartbroken to lose, having overseen a tough however hopeful daybreak for MMA up to now 15 years.

“At first no one favored MMA. Households didn’t prefer to take their youngsters as a result of they stated it was a violent sport and brought about psychological and bodily harm,” Mubariz advised Al Jazeera’s bureau in Kabul over Skype.

“However as we participated in additional competitions, the individuals started following our athletes – particularly the youth.

“However now the restrictions that the Taliban have on holding skilled MMA competitions signifies that the motivation and spirit of Afghanistan’s MMA fighters has fully damaged down.”

Some nonetheless look like preventing with Ahmad Wali Hotak apparently travelling overseas for fights and being welcomed dwelling by authorities figures in Kabul.

However Mubariz says that within the months after the Taliban takeover, he was unable to maintain the game going domestically or assure his household’s security.

For feminine fighters, the scenario appears to be fully hopeless.

“At some point, I used to be knowledgeable that the top of the [General Directorate of Physical Education and Sport] determined that the actions of the MMA federation needs to be closed. … There have been 500 feminine members in our federation. We obtained a letter saying that ladies not have the appropriate to work and observe [MMA].”

It wasn’t lengthy till Mubariz determined he needed to depart along with his spouse, daughter and two sons.

“Once I tried to exert authority over the unlawful selections made in opposition to bodily coaching, I used to be threatened and insulted a number of occasions,” he says.

“One other time, the commander of bodyguards of the [Taliban’s sports directorate] head handled me very badly on the HQ of the Afghanistan Olympics and threatened to kill me.

“I then obtained a name from the chief head of [Afghanistan’s National Olympic Committee], who stated my life was at risk. I made a decision to go away Afghanistan for the sake of my household and myself.”

Mubariz stated 4 Taliban officers got here to his home to query him and, after they failed to seek out him there, they confiscated his automotive.

“I requested the Taliban for justice as a result of I’m a sportsman, however my issues weren’t addressed. Lastly after six months, I managed to go to Pakistan, get a Thai household visa and depart Afghanistan with the a whole lot of goals that I had,” he stated.

Al Jazeera contacted the Normal Directorate of Bodily Training and Sport for a touch upon the problems raised on this article, but it surely didn’t reply.

Along with his Thai visa now expired, Mubariz, like Hashime, can’t compete or make a residing from his career.

“I labored exhausting for the individuals of Afghanistan for a few years, gained honours on the earth championship and was the ambassador of the Nationwide Police of the Ministry of Inside of Afghanistan, however right this moment I stay in Thailand like a life sentence,” he stated on WhatsApp.

“My household and I spend our days and nights excited about our future. Right here, I can neither do sports activities nor safe the way forward for my youngsters. All the pieces we now have labored for is at risk.”

In Paris, Arabzai at the very least doesn’t have that drawback – he can compete below the French flag whereas additionally taking the Afghan flag to his fights.

However his dream of a sporting profession, or at the very least a secure life, hangs within the steadiness.

“Parwaiz is firstly of his skilled profession, so the cash he will get with preventing isn’t sufficient to permit him to stay,” says Mathieu Nicourt, proprietor of the Free Combat Academy, which noticed the younger refugee’s potential.

“Even the primary time I noticed him within the health club, I knew Parwaiz was a fighter. I knew he would develop into skilled. However what we want is to get sponsors to assist him put together effectively and provides him profession in MMA.”