Canada Refugee Claim PDF

Client I.D. Number CLT2340699 Claimant's first name(s) and family name(s) Mikias Demiss BEKELE PROTECTED WHEN COMPLETED RPD file number (for IRB office use) Basis of Claim Form (for persons claiming refugee protection in Canada) ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS ON THIS FORM. - If you are making your claim a...

Client I.D. Number CLT2340699 Claimant's first name(s) and family name(s) Mikias Demiss BEKELE PROTECTED WHEN COMPLETED RPD file number (for IRB office use) Basis of Claim Form (for persons claiming refugee protection in Canada) ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS ON THIS FORM. - If you are making your claim at an immigration office inside Canada, complete this form and bring the completed form and one copy with you to give to the Officer who will decide if your claim is eligible. - If you made your claim on arrival at a port of entry into Canada, complete this form and provide the completed form and one copy to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). You must make sure that the IRB receives the completed form not later than 15 calendar days after the day that the Officer refers your claim to the Refugee Protection Division. - Make sure that you make a copy of the completed form for yourself. If the Officer or the IRB, as the case may be, has not received your completed Basis of Claim Form (BOC Form) by the dates mentioned above, the IRB will have a special hearing and may decide to declare your claim abandoned which means you would not be allowed to continue with your claim. IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING COUNSEL AND DOCUMENTS THAT MAY SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM You have a right to be represented by counsel at your own expense, but the counsel you choose must be available on the date fixed for the hearing. You are responsible for obtaining and providing to the IRB any documents that may support your claim. Please see the appendix at the end of this form for details on providing documents to the IRB. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THIS FORM IMPORTANT: You can find instructions to help you complete your BOC Form both in the appendix at the end of this form and in the Claimant's Guide in your Claimant's Kit. Please read these instructions carefully. Before giving your original BOC Form to the IRB, remove the appendix. If you have written additional information on other sheets of paper, please provide those sheets of paper with your BOC Form. PLEASE COMPLETE LEGIBLY. Print or type the details about your claim in the spaces provided below. If you need more space, use additional sheets of paper the same size as this form. On each additional sheet, write your name and Client I.D. Number (and IRB file number, if known) in the top right-hand corner, and write the page number at the bottom. Also, indicate which question you are answering on the additional sheet, and number the lines. WARNING: It is a serious offence to provide false or misleading information. Your claim may also be rejected - and any favourable decision, if already given, revoked, if you give information that is not true or is misleading, or if you try to hide important information. Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form Page 1 of 10 Date Stamp (for IRB office use) WHO YOU ARE 1a) 1b) Family or last name(s) / surname(s) Given or first name(s) Mikias Demiss BEKELE 1c) Date of birth (year/month/day) 1995/03/01 1d) Indicate what sex is identified on your passport Male Female Other If you do not identify with the sex/gender on your passport, you may self-identify your sex/gender: 1e) 1f) Nationality, ethnic and racial group or tribe Ethiopian, Amhara Religion and denomination or sect Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Christian 1g) List all languages and dialects you speak Amharic and English WHY YOU ARE CLAIMING REFUGEE PROTECTION When you answer the questions in this section, please explain everything in order, starting with the oldest information and ending with the newest. INCLUDE EVERYTHING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CLAIM. INCLUDE DATES, NAMES AND PLACES WHEREVER POSSIBLE. If the information one of your accompanying family members wrote in this part of their BOC Form applies to you, you do not need to repeat that information here. Simply write the name and file number of the family member and explain that your refugee protection claim is based on the same information. Attach two copies of any documents you have to support your claim, such as travel documents (including your passport) and identity, medical, psychological or police documents. Include certified translations in English or French for all documents in a language other than English or French. You must pay for these translations yourself. If you get more travel or identity documents after submitting your BOC Form, give two copies to the IRB without delay. A copy of any other document in support of your claim that you get after submitting your BOC Form must be received by the IRB and by the Minister, if the Minister is a party, at least 10 days before your hearing. Please read the appendix at the end of this form for details on providing documents to the IRB. 2(a) Have you or your family ever been harmed, mistreated or threatened by any person or group? Yes No If “YES” explain in detail: What happened to you and your family. When the harm or mistreatment or threats occurred; Who do you think caused the harm or mistreatment or threats; What do you think was the reason for the harm or mistreatment or threats that occurred; Whether persons in situations similar to yours experienced such harm, mistreatment or threats. (Indicate dates, names and places, wherever possible.) 1. Please see attached narrative. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10....if you need more space, use additional sheets of paper the same size as this form. Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form Page 2 of 10 2(b) If you returned to your country, do you believe you would be harmed, mistreated or threatened by any person or group? Yes No If “YES” explain in detail: What would happen to you? Who would harm, mistreat or threaten you? What do you think is the reason you would be harmed, mistreated or threatened? (Indicate dates, names and places, wherever possible.) 1. I will be detained and physically mistreated or even get killed. Please see attached narrative. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11....if you need more space, use additional sheets of paper the same size as this form. 2(c) Did you ask any authorities such as the police, or any other organization, in your country to protect or assist you? Yes No If “NO” explain in detail why not. If “YES” explain in detail: Whom you approached for help; What steps you took; and What happened as a result. (Indicate dates, names and places, wherever possible.) 1. Please see attached narrative. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11....if you need more space, use additional sheets of paper the same size as this form. Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form Page 3 of 10 2(d) Did you move to another part of your country to seek safety? Yes No If “NO” explain in detail why not: If “YES” explain in detail: Why you left the place that you moved to; and Why you could not live there, or some other place in another part of your country, today. 1. No, the entire country is controlled by the government. Please see attached narrative for the details. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12....if you need more space, use additional sheets of paper the same size as this form. 2(e) When did you leave your country? (Provide dates) 1. January 26, 2023. 2. 2(f) Why did you leave at that time and not sooner, or at a later time? 1. I left as soon as I managed. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12....if you need more space, use additional sheets of paper the same size as this form. Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form Page 4 of 10 2(g) Did you move to another country (other than Canada) to seek safety? Yes No If “YES” explain in detail: Name of country; When you moved to that country; How long you stayed there; Whether you claimed refugee protection in that country and, if not, why not. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14....if you need more space, use additional sheets of paper the same size as this form. 2(h) Give any other details that you think are important for your claim for refugee protection. 1. None. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14....if you need more space, use additional sheets of paper the same size as this form. Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form Page 5 of 10 2(i) Are children who are less than 18 years old claiming refugee protection with you? Yes No If “YES”, check the correct box below and answer the question(s) that follow: You are the child’s parent and the other parent is in Canada. You are not the child’s parent: If you are not the child’s parent, do you have any legal documents or written consent allowing you to take care of the child or travel with the child? If yes, what document(s) do you have? If not, why not? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. You are the child’s parent but the other parent is not in Canada: If you are the child’s parent but the other parent is not in Canada, do you have any legal documents or written consent allowing you to take care of the child or travel with the child? If yes, what document(s) do you have? If not, why not? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 2(j) If a child, six years old or younger, is claiming refugee protection with you, explain in detail why you believe the child would be at risk of being harmed, mistreated or threatened if returned to their country. (Include only information that is specific to the child’s situation and is different from the information you gave to support your claim.) 1. N/A 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12....if you need more space, use additional sheets of paper the same size as this form. Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form Page 6 of 10 COUNTRIES WHERE YOU ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS HARM 3. List the country or countries where you believe you are at risk of serious harm. (a) Ethiopia (c) (b) (d) YOUR CITIZENSHIP 4. List each country of which you are or have been a citizen. Country How citizenship was acquired (e.g. by birth, by marriage, etc) Present status (a) Ethiopia Citizen by birth Date citizenship was acquired (year/month/day) 1995/03/01 (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) YOUR FAMILY 5. List your relatives, living or dead, in the order below. Use an additional sheet if you need more space. i. Your spouse(s), or your common-law partner, including your same-sex partner ii. Your children, including children born outside of marriage and adopted children iii. Your parents iv. Your brothers and sisters, including half-brothers and half-sisters Family or last name(s) / surname(s) Given or first name(s) Relationship (e.g. mother, son) Date of birth1 Citizenship(s) Place and country where they live 2 (a) TESHOME Demiss Bekele Father 1954/09/04 Ethiopian Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (b) DEMISS Tsehay Getahun Mother 1964/04/16 Ethiopian Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) 1 If you do not know the date, give the person’s approximate age (__years) 2 If person is dead, give the date of death (year/month/day) Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form Page 7 of 10 PREVIOUS PROTECTION CLAIMS 6. If you or any of your relatives listed in the question above, have claimed refugee protection or asylum in Canada or in any other country [including at a Canadian office in another country or from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)], provide details here. Family or last name(s) / surname(s) Given or first name(s) Relationship (e.g. mother, son) Date of claim Country or UNHCR Result1 IRB file no. and CIC2 client ID no. (a) N/A (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) 1 For example: accepted, rejected, not completed 2 Citizenship and Immigration Canada VISA APPLICATIONS TO CANADA 7(a) Did you apply for a visa to enter Canada? Yes 7(b) If "YES", date of the application (year/month/day) I do not remember the exact date No 7(c) At which Canadian office? 7(d) Was the application accepted? Nairobi Yes No 7(e) Type of Canadian visa applied for Work Visitor Immigrant 7(f) Date visa was issued (year/month/day) and duration Student Other 7(g) Date visa application was refused (year/month/day) 2018/05/03, close to five years 7(h) Reason for visa refusal WHERE YOU CAN BE CONTACTED IN CANADA 8(a) Street number and name 8(b) Room, floor or apartment number 208 Oakwood Ave 8(c) City Toronto 8(d) Province 8(e) Postal Code ON M6E 2V4 8(f) Telephone number, including area code +1 647 581 8630 IF YOU MOVE, YOU MUST GIVE THE IRB YOUR NEW ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY. Please use the notification of client contact information form in your Claimant's Kit. Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form Page 8 of 10 YOUR COUNSEL 9(a) Do you have counsel (for example, a lawyer, immigration consultant, family member or other person who will be helping you with your refugee protection claim before the Refugee Protection Division)? Yes No If "YES", did your counsel help you to complete this Basis of Claim Form? Yes No will your counsel be representing you at your refugee protection hearing? Yes No 9(b) Name of your counsel Teklemichael Sahlemariam 9(c) Address 526 Richmond Street East 9(d) City 9(e) Province 9(f) Postal Code ON Toronto 9(g) Telephone number, including area code 6477225328 M5A1R3 9(h) Fax number, including area code 9(i) 6475573570 Email address [email protected] 9(j) Check one: 9(k) 9(l) Lawyer (or notary if practising in Quebec) Province: Ontario Membership identification number Member of Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council 66984A Family member Relationship Other The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act makes it an offence for any person not authorized under the Act to knowingly, directly or indirectly, represent or advise a person for consideration – or offer to do so – in connection with a proceeding or application under that Act. (Consideration includes money, or any other form of compensation or reward.) If you get counsel or if you change counsel in the future, you must inform the IRB immediately. Please use the special form in your Claimant's Kit. LANGUAGE AND INTERPRETER 10(a) Language you would like the IRB to use with you (for example, during your hearing and in documents) Canada has two official languages: English and French. Please choose the official language you would like the IRB to use with you: English French 10(b) Interpreter for your language or dialect If you do not understand English or French, we will provide an interpreter for you at your hearing. Please write the language and dialect you want to use. If you do not need an interpreter, write “N/A” (not applicable). Amharic Language Dialect If you want to change the language of your hearing [Question 10(a) above] or the language or dialect of interpretation [Question 10(b) above], you must inform the IRB in writing at least 10 days before your hearing. Please see the Claimant's Guide for more information. Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form Page 9 of 10 YOUR DECLARATION AS A CLAIMANT 11. If you DID NOT require the assistance of an interpreter to complete this form, you must complete DECLARATION A. If you DID require the assistance of an interpreter to complete this form, you must complete DECLARATION B. Make sure that all the questions and answers and instructions in the form, including this one, are interpreted to you before you sign DECLARATION B. DECLARATION A I declare that the information I have provided in this form is complete, true and correct. I declare that I am able to read English and that I have fully read and fully understood the entire content of this form and all attached documents. My declaration has the same force and effect as if made under oath. Date (year/month/day) Your signature DECLARATION B I declare that the entire content of this form and all attached documents have been interpreted to me. I declare that the information I have provided in this form is complete, true and correct. My declaration has the same force and effect as if made under oath. 2023/03/15 Date (year/month/day) Your signature It is a serious offence to provide false or misleading information. Your claim may also be rejected - and any favorable decision, if already given, revoked, if you give information that is not true or is misleading, or if you try to hide important information. INTERPRETER'S DECLARATION 12. I, (print full name clearly) Setota Wataro , hereby declare that I have accurately interpreted the Amharic entire content of this form and all attached documents for the claimant from the English language to the language (state dialect, if any). I am proficient in both of these languages (and dialect, if any) and was able to communicate effectively with the claimant. The claimant has assured me that he/she understood the entire content of this form and all attached documents and the answers provided, as interpreted by me. 2023/03/15 Date (year/month/day) Interpreter's signature Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form Page 10 of 10 Remove the appendix from your BOC Form when you give it to the IRB Appendix Instructions for Completing Your Basis of Claim Form In order for you to get refugee protection in Canada, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) must decide that you are a “Convention refugee” or a “person in need of protection.” These terms are defined in Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and you can find the definitions in the Claimant's Guide in your Claimant's Kit. The purpose of your Basis of Claim Form (BOC Form) is to present your claim for refugee protection to the Refugee Protection Division of the IRB. All members of your family who are claiming refugee protection must provide their own BOC Form, even though your claims will be processed together. The information given in each person's BOC Form will be used to make decisions in the claims of the other family members. For more information to help you complete your BOC Form, please see the Claimant's Guide in your Claimant's Kit. Answering the questions - Please see the Claimant's Guide for more information before completing your BOC Form. - The information you give in your BOC Form must be complete, true and correct. Your BOC Form will be used as evidence in your claim for refugee protection, and you will be asked questions about the information you give in the form. Your claim may be rejected if you give information that is not true or if you try to hide important information. - Make sure that you understand the instructions and the questions, before you write your answers. If you do not understand a question, ask someone to explain it to you. - You must answer all of the questions in the form. If a question does not apply to you, write "N/A" (not applicable) as your answer. - Give details in all of your answers, and include dates and names of places and persons. If you need more space, use additional sheets of paper the same size as the BOC Form. - Sign the applicable claimant's declaration at the end of the form when you are finished. Language You can obtain and complete the BOC Form in either of Canada's official languages: English or French. If you do not understand English or French, you will need to get an interpreter. Make sure that the interpreter reads all of the questions in the form to you and that the interpreter understands your answers. You and the interpreter must both sign the form when you are finished. The Claimant's Guide provides more information about choosing between English and French and about asking for an interpreter for your hearing. Children less than 18 years old - Children 6 years old or younger who are claiming refugee protection with a parent: Complete only the "WHO YOU ARE" section of the BOC Form. The form must be signed by the child's parent or the person named by the IRB to represent the child in their claim. - Children 7 to 17 years old who are claiming refugee protection with a parent: Complete the entire BOC Form. The form must be signed by the child's parent or the person named by the IRB to represent the child in their claim. - Children of any age under 18 who do not have an adult with them: The person named by the IRB to represent the child in their claim must complete the entire BOC Form and sign it. Documents You must show the IRB evidence of who you are by giving the IRB official documents with your name and date of birth on them. For example, you can give a passport, national identity card, birth certificate, school certificate, driver's licence, military document, professional or religious membership card. If you do not have documents like this with you, you need to do everything you can to get them immediately. If you still cannot get these documents, you will need to explain the reason for this at your hearing and show that you did everything you could to get them. Attach two copies of all documents (identity, travel or other documents) that you have with you now to support your claim for refugee protection, including documents that are not genuine, documents that you got in an irregular or illegal way or by giving information that is not true, and documents you used that do not really belong to you. In addition to the documents listed above, you can include proof of membership in political organizations, medical or psychological reports, police documents, business records, news clippings, visas, and airplane, train or bus tickets. Include certified translations in English or French for all documents if they are in a language other than English or French. Translations are certified when they include the translator's name, the language and dialect, if any, Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form - Appendix Page 1 of 2 translated, and a statement that the translation is accurate, signed by the translator. You must pay for these translations yourself. You must bring the originals to your hearing (or give them to the IRB sooner if the IRB asks for them), unless the documents have been seized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) or Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Please see the Claimant's Guide for more information. If you get more identity or travel documents that support your claim after you have provided your BOC Form, give two copies to the IRB without delay. If you get more documents, other than identity or travel documents, that support your claim after you have provided your BOC Form, give one copy to the IRB and a copy to the Minister, if the Minister is a party, at least 10 days before your hearing. Deadline and process for submitting the BOC Form to the IRB 1. If you are making your claim at an immigration office inside Canada, you must bring the completed BOC Form and one copy with you to your eligibility interview. 2. If you made your claim on arrival at a port of entry (an airport, seaport or land border crossing), you must give your completed original BOC Form and one copy to the IRB no later than 15 calendar days after the date that the immigration officer gives you the blank BOC Form. You can bring the completed BOC Form and the copy, yourself, to the IRB office listed on your Notice to Appear, or you can send the form by courier, fax (if the document is no more than 20 pages long, unless the IRB consents to receiving more than 20 pages) to that IRB office but you are responsible for them being received by the due date. (Note: If the BOC Form is faxed to the IRB, the original must be provided at the beginning of the hearing.) Failure to provide the completed BOC Form to the IRB by the deadlines If you made your claim on arrival at a port of entry and the IRB does not receive your completed BOC Form within 15 calendar days, you will have to go to a special hearing no later than five working days after the deadline and explain why the IRB should not declare your claim abandoned or, in other words, why you should be allowed to continue with your claim. The IRB may accept or reject your explanation. If it rejects your explanation, your claim will be declared abandoned which means you will not be allowed to continue with your claim, or make another claim for refugee protection in the future. If you have counsel, you are responsible for making sure that your counsel meets the deadlines Making changes If your information changes or if you want to add information, you must inform the IRB. Underline the information you changed or added to your BOC Form, sign and date the changed pages, and send the original and one copy to the IRB. You must also sign a declaration stating that the information you have given in the BOC Form, together with the changes and additions you have made, is complete, true and correct. The IRB must receive these pages and the declaration at least 10 days before your hearing. Your personal information The confidentiality of the information you provide in this form is protected by the Privacy Act. Your personal information may be disclosed only in the circumstances where such disclosure is permitted under the terms of that Act and of the Access to Information Act. Disclosure in other claims Although the confidentiality of the personal information you give in your BOC Form is protected, your information may be used in other claims that are related to yours or similar to yours, even if the other person is not claiming refugee protection with you. Before releasing this information to another claimant, the IRB will try to inform you about this in writing. To make sure that you receive this information, remember to give the IRB your new address when you move, even after you have received a decision on your claim. The IRB will not release the information if there is a serious possibility that releasing it will put someone's life, liberty or security in danger or is likely to cause an injustice. If you do not want your personal information to be released, please explain on a separate sheet of paper why you think there is a serious possibility that releasing your information may put someone's life, liberty or security in danger or is likely to cause an injustice. Attach the sheet of paper to your BOC Form. Disclosure to other organizations The personal information you provide on this form is collected under the authority of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the purpose of determination of your claim for refugee protection by the IRB. Your personal information may be shared with other organizations including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and law enforcement agencies, for the purpose of administration and enforcement of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Version française disponible sur demande RPD.02.01 (November 2012) Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Basis of Claim Form - Appendix Page 2 of 2 BOC Narrative Claimant’s Name: Mikias Demiss Bekele Date of Birth: 01/03/1995 Client ID: CLT2340699 Introduction 1. I am Mikias Demiss, an Ethiopian citizen, who was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, seeking refuge protection in Canada due to the imminent threat of detention, torture, and even death if I were to return to my home country. My Amhara ethnicity has made me a target of persecution. As a result, I have been forced to leave everything behind and seek safety here in Canada. Background 2. I finished high school in Gibson School Systems in Addis Ababa in 2014. I went to England and studied there from 2015 to 2016 and graduated with a certificate in cultural studies. I returned to Ethiopia in January 2016 and stayed with my family unemployed. In January 2018 I started working in a family business, a store that distributes canvass, tents, and plastics for construction and field works. My roles was in the sales and logistics. I worked in that capacity until March 2022. In April 2022, I borrowed money from my father and started working alongside my father in the tire and car oil and spare parts business. The December 22, 2022 Incident 3. Our store was close to an area called Haile Garment; it is now called Hacalu Hundesa1 Square. It is around the border area between Addis Ababa and Oromiya. On or about December 22, 2022, when we arrived at our shop as usual in the morning, we found the area was under the control of the Oromiya special force and groups called Qero (also spelt as Qeerroo – means Oromo youths). These groups were threatening the Amhara people in the area, and when we reached our shop, we noticed a big red X sign on the door. 1 Hacalu Hundessa is a famous Oromo artist who was assassinated in a mysterious circumstance on June 29, 2020. 4. Mr. Zenebe, a man from the Gurage ethnicity who owned a shop next to ours, informed me that a group of people had arrived and were demanding that all Amhara ethnicity individuals leave the area permanently. As I opened our shop, the group immediately entered and ordered me and my father to evacuate the premises with our goods. When I asked where we were supposed to go, as this was our country, they responded by saying that we were settlers of Minilik and that they were demanding we leave their land. They proceeded to loot and throw our goods out of the shop. 5. When my father and I tried to resist, the attackers beat us, and we were unable to defend ourselves. Even though I tried to protect my father, we were outnumbered by the attackers who beat us mercilessly. During the attack, my father sustained a head injury, and blood was flowing from it. People from other ethnic groups who were present in the area were shouting and causing a disturbance. The army members had to use their weapons to disperse the crowd. Trapped in the Hands of Special Forces 6. As we tried to escape, we were caught by the special forces. At this point, my father was angry and confronted them, accusing them of not respecting the law and our human rights. He even confronted the man with the walkie-talkie. My father was slapped by one of the special force members. The special forces then loaded us into their vehicle and took us to the Akaqi Kaliti, Oromia's Special Forces camp. Upon our arrival, we were stripped of our belts and phones and our shoes were confiscated. We were then locked in a cramped room and deprived of food and water until around 7:30 in the evening. 7. In the evening, two men dressed in the special forces uniform of Oromia came in and told my father to come and give his word. I asked if they could do it during daytime instead since it was late. The uniformed forces shouted that they decide what to do and not us, in response. One of the men kicked me while insulting me. My father invoked the law of God, refusing to leave and requesting that they refrain from hitting me. I stood up and shouted to not take my father away. Then I hugged him tightly. Suddenly, one of them spoke in Oromo language and a group of Oromian members with sticks rushed in and mercilessly beat me and my father, separating us. 8. They then dragged me away and locked me up in a dark room. I was left alone for many hours. The door finally opened, and people entered and handcuffed me, covered my face, and got me in the car to take me to an unknown location. I asked where they were taking me, but they told me to stay quiet and comply or else that they would throw me out of the car. I was terrified thinking that they were going to kill me. After traveling for about 30 minuets, I believe, the car stopped, and I was asked to get out. Forced to Sign and Flee 9. When I got out of the car, they held my hand and led me to a room where they removed my face covering but kept me handcuffed. Everyone except one person left the room. The person said they needed to gather some information from me. They asked for basic personal information and then questioned me about an incident from the previous day. I provided all the details while they wrote them down. Then, they presented me with Oromo language text which I was not able to read and asked me to sign it. They told me the paper said I took part in an illegal protest and promised not to participate in any future protests or political activities. I didn't want to sign it, but the person threatened to keep me in detention if I did not. In the end, I signed it. Later, my mother, Tsehay Getahun, bailed me out. Following that, I decided to leave Canada using the visa I obtained in 2018 because I felt unsafe. Conclusion 10. I left Ethiopia due to concerns for my safety and well-being. I was a young businessman with a promising future and never planned to leave my home or family behind. However, I left after our store was raided, my father and I were detained and physically mistreated on the basis of our Amhara ethnicity. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to locate my father since his detention. I was forced to sign a document I did not believe in. Hence, I seek Canada’s protection.