An elite Iranian bike owner, who claimed asylum within the UK after final yr’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 greatest ever end in a World Championship street race when he completed above a number of present WorldTour professionals, coming in twenty third within the under-23 street race on the World Championships in 2016.
After he utilized for asylum final yr, he was positioned in a lodge in Studying by the Dwelling Workplace. Ganjkhanlou quickly joined Studying Biking Membership and recurrently competes in races within the native space, however has now been instructed 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 method 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 associates. 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 feel Studying Biking is like my household now,” he added. “Right here looks like dwelling and my metropolis now. I’m feeling actually good right here. Once I need 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 I simply have my bike right here, all of the outdated issues from my life are gone now.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 optimistic and completely satisfied.”
Dwelling Workplace officers instructed The Guardian a fortnight in the past that whereas he wouldn’t be allowed to take his bike on board or trip it within the port space, Ganjkhanlou could be allowed to retailer it on the port and trip it elsewhere.
(Picture credit score: Equipped by Studying Biking Membership)
Michael Grey, a good friend 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 rather a lot with us,” Grey mentioned. “We chat to lots 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 keep 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 staff,” Grey added. “As a membership we help him, however he wants a special form 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 neighborhood right here, we give him lifts, we give him membership equipment, there’s no assure he can have that there.
“If he goes to the Bibby, it will likely be a little bit bit like the entire assist we have now 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 could destroy an athlete however extra importantly destroy an individual. He has such worth to us right here and a price. It’s all within the Dwelling Workplace’s arms now and is a ready recreation for us all.”
Emma Clark Lam, Ganjkhanlou’s case employee from the charity Care4Calais, instructed 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 reside on the Bibby Stockholm barge. For an elite bike owner like Mohammad, the prospect of not having 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 will be a really merciless end result for poor Mohammad.”
Biking Weekly contacted the Dwelling Workplace for a response in relation to this story.
