An elite Iranian bike owner, who claimed asylum within the UK after final 12 months’s Glasgow World Championships, says the Bibby Stockholm barge would destroy his psychological well being and wellbeing if he’s compelled to Portland, Dorset by the Dwelling Workplace.
Mohammad Ganjkhanlou rode within the elite males’s time trial in Stirling final August and positioned 66th behind the gold medal winner Remco Evenepoel of Belgium.
In addition to competing in Glasgow, he has received numerous medals in different competitions around the globe.
Ganjkhanlou additionally achieved his nation’s finest ever lead to a World Championship highway race when he completed above a number of present WorldTour professionals, coming in twenty third within the under-23 highway race on the World Championships in 2016.
After he utilized for asylum final 12 months, he was positioned in a lodge in Studying by the Dwelling Workplace. Ganjkhanlou quickly joined Studying Biking Membership and frequently competes in races within the native space, however has now been informed that he’ll imminently be moved to the barge in Dorset, and be unable to take his bike on board.
The Bibby Stockholm is a barge moored in Dorset, housing asylum seekers. Amnesty Worldwide has mentioned that it’s an “totally shameful solution to home individuals who’ve fled terror, battle and persecution”.
Talking to Biking Weekly, Ganjkhanlou says he fears for his psychological well being if he’s torn away from his new discovered buddies. He explains that he would really feel trapped and remoted, and unable to immerse himself within the sport he loves.
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“Once I got here to Studying I discovered the Studying Biking Membership, they welcomed me and we discover races, we go to the races collectively,” Ganjkhanlou mentioned.
“I believe Studying Biking is like my household now,” he added. “Right here looks like residence and my metropolis now. I’m feeling actually good right here. Once I wish to prepare I do know the place it’s good to go, the place the roads are quiet and protected.
“If I am going there [Bibby Stockholm] it’s my thoughts that’s damaged. I simply have my bike right here, all of the previous issues from my life are gone now. I haven’t seen my household for 9 months, my spouse for 9 months, so now I simply have my bike. Once I prepare, my thoughts is okay, it retains me constructive and completely happy.”
Dwelling Workplace officers informed The Guardian a fortnight in the past that whereas he wouldn’t be allowed to take his bike on board or experience it within the port space, Ganjkhanlou could be allowed to retailer it on the port and experience it elsewhere.
(Picture credit score: Equipped by Studying Biking Membership)
Michael Grey, a buddy of Ganjkhanlou’s and the race secretary at Studying Biking Membership defined that the 26-year-old is a valued member of the local people, and that the home scene has welcomed him with open arms.
“We give him lifts to races quite a bit with us,” Grey mentioned. “We chat to quite a lot of organisers and, more often than not, we get Mohammad a free entry so long as the remainder of us signal on like regular. Lots of people are keen to assist him out as a result of he has actually no cash in any respect.
“The fellows at our native bike store have been nice too and assist him preserve his bike and issues like that which is so useful.”
“The factor with Mohammad is that he’s genuinely so good, so he must be on an out and out group,” Grey added. “As a membership we help him, however he wants a unique type of help. It’s actually arduous.”
“He must be racing in a peloton, that’s his background,” he defined. “He’s a part of the group right here, we give him lifts, we give him membership equipment, there’s no assure he may have that there.
“If he goes to the Bibby, it will likely be slightly bit like all the assist we’ve given him has gone to waste. For those who’re in asylum, it’s already a lonely place so for him to be taken away from the relationships he has constructed right here is merciless.
“This may destroy an athlete however extra importantly destroy an individual. He has such worth to us right here and a value. It’s all within the Dwelling Workplace’s fingers now and is a ready sport for us all.”
Emma Clark Lam, Ganjkhanlou’s case employee from the charity Care4Calais, informed The Guardian earlier this month that she feared for his psychological wellbeing if he’s moved to the barge.
“I do consider that Mohammad’s psychological well being could be gravely in danger if he had been despatched to dwell on the Bibby Stockholm barge. For an elite bike owner like Mohammad, the prospect of not with the ability to prepare together with his native membership or compete in races is unimaginable.
“We’re nonetheless hoping the Dwelling Workplace will change their thoughts on this, but when they don’t, it could be a really merciless final result for poor Mohammad.”
Biking Weekly contacted the Dwelling Workplace for a response in relation to this story.
