Here’s How Social Media Fame Changed Murtaza Ahmadi’s Life
Shafiqa has appealed to Messi requesting his assistance to help them escape from Afghanistan. She desires his help so that her son can have a better future.
Seven-year-old Murtaza Ahmadi’s photograph wearing a makeshift plastic version of Lionel Messi’s T-Shirt went viral in January 2016. The young boy was seen holding the blue and white striped plastic shirt with Messi’s name and the number ten sketched on it with a pen. The image caught the attention of fans on social media and Murtaza instantly became famous. The image became viral and it was quite evident that the young champ was crazy about football.
The United Nations’ refugee agency made arrangements for the young celebrity to meet Lionel Messi in December 2016 in Qatar. Murtaza was photographed alongside the football champion on the pitch before the friendly football match could begin. This news made headlines. In addition, Murtaza Ahmadi also received two autographed shirts and a football with Messi’s signature. Even though meeting a football legend at such a young age is considered an achievement for a young boy like Murtaza, his mother believes otherwise. She believes that her son should never have become famous.
"From the day Murtaza became famous, life became difficult for our family," says Shafiqa who is Murtaza’s mother. It was not because he was being hounded by the paparazzi. It was the Taliban.
In the month of November, Taliban began invading the district of Jaghori in the Ghazni province, the same province where Murtaza was raised. The Taliban raided houses, stopped cars, killed numerous people including Murtaza’s own relatives.
Murtaza’s mother explained that the Taliban, as well as other groups, began to think that her son received a heavy amount of money from Messi. The family received threats to the extent that they had to stop sending Murtaza to school. "Local strongmen were calling and saying, ‘You have become rich, pay the money you have received from Messi or we will take your son,’” she revealed. Murtaza would never step out to play outside as he would hear sounds of heavy machine guns, rockets and people screaming.
After repeated threats, Murtaza, his mother and his brother escaped to the town of Bamyan with the help of their father. From Bamyan, they traveled again to Kabul where they are currently hiding among several refugees. "Now our lives are at risk both in our hometown and here in Kabul. He spends all of his time here inside the house”, said Murtaza’s mother.
Appeal to Messi to help them escape
After leaving his family in Bamyan, Murtaza Ahmadi’s father returned back to work in his farm. Murtaza misses his father a lot. He only gets to talk to his father when he calls home. He also complains that he cannot go outside the house. "My mother doesn't let me go out. She is afraid. I only play with my friend inside the house”, says Murtaza.
Shafiqa has appealed to Messi requesting his assistance to help them escape from Afghanistan. She desires his help so that her son can have a better future. In Afghanistan, Murtaza is a mere pawn in the corrupt and violent system of the Taliban regime. The fact that Murtaza belongs to the Hazara minority makes the situation worse as this group is persecuted by the Taliban. While leaving his hometown, Murtaza was forced to bid farewell to his jersey that made him famous and gave him memories to cherish for a lifetime. It would be nothing less than a miracle if Murtaza can escape from the hands of the Taliban and live peacefully in a safe environment where his dreams and goals can materialize.