Abduraham’s story – Artwork by Filippa Edghill

Abduraham was just 12 months old when he arrived in Israel with his mother. He had a cough and a runny nose, and both were detained upon arrival.

After repeated requests, a doctor was called to examine them. During the examination, the physician noticed matching scars on Abduraham and his mother’s legs. Before reaching Israel, the pair had been held captive for three months by smugglers. They were chained together, leaving permanent marks on their bodies. The smugglers subjected Abduraham’s mother to severe abuse before eventually releasing them, after a ransom of $10,000 was paid. They were then taken to the Israeli border, before being transferred to immigration detention.