Murtaza Ahmadi, the Afghan boy whose image went viral in 2016 when he wore a Lionel Messi jersey made out of a plastic bag, wants to leave Afghanistan and lives in fear of the Taliban.
Murtaza, now 10 years old, lives in Kabul, where his family fled to after the Taliban attacked their village, but there is no escaping the horror.
"I am trapped at home and I cannot go out because I am very afraid of the Taliban," Ahmadi told Efe news agency.
"I want to travel to a safe place from Afghanistan. Please save me from this situation."
Murtaza and his family belong to the Hazara Shia minority, which is being persecuted by the Taliban and his sister, 22, explained the threat they face.
"What will happen to us? We were already under threat," said Mahdia Ahmadi.
"[Now] we have no [police or soldiers protecting us] and whenever there is a knock on the door then Murtaza thinks it is the Taliban and runs towards me or my mother to hide."
The fame of Murtaza's viral images led to him meeting his idol, Messi, but his family explained that this brought them trouble on their return to Afghanistan from Qatar as people thought they had been given money. They received threats and even feared the young boy would be kidnapped.
N0_N0NsENSE
419
Let us pray for peace. Peace in Afghanistan and hearts of the people of Afghanistan 🇦🇫 ♥ 🙏
Joyaklsyz
372
sad...this is what these fanatics do to the world....God help this boy and his family..
Feybcist
313
what does a 10 year old boy know? who in his right senses will go after a 10 year old boy? you guys are becoming too petty
shahj1328
260
today i relized that the taliban also watch football 😂😂
wihcdlmopr
141
What about Palestinian kids?what about Kashmiri kids?what about Syrian kids?This kid is free to play and be whoever he wants talibans told everyone those who hold passports they can leave anytime they want or stay,his father is portraying himself like he is trapped he can leave nobody is stopping him it’s the countries which might not be taking him and his son as a refugee