Ghanim Al Shnen left his life and family behind to seek safety in Australia. After seven years apart, a workplace accident claiming both Ghanim’s arms allowed them to reunite.
The Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion welcomed Ghanim Al Shnen to UTS on 2 December for a screening of the ABC’s Australian Story, ‘What Doesn’t Kill You’, followed by a live Q&A panel featuring Ghanim as well as NSW Australian of the Year Dr. Munjed Al Muderis, Nicole Bridge and Stefan Laux.
Ghanim Al Shnen was a respected policeman in the southern Iraq city of Nasiriya and proud husband and father to three young sons. His life changed when a Militia commander was captured and questioned, and Ghanim was asked to change the report. He refused, and a bomb was placed in his car as retribution. To ensure his safety, he had no choice but to leave his home and family. Ghanim came to Australian shores on a leaky refugee boat.
Spending roughly 13 months in detention, Ghanim endured horrible living conditions and witnessed frequent suicide attempts, before gaining approval to work in Australia. In November 2018, Ghanim was working on a building site when a metal bar he was holding struck overhead wires. He suffered catastrophic injuries that resulted in the amputation of both his arms.
In a world first procedure, renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis is overseeing fitting Ghanim with two robotic arms that respond to signals from his brain. Also, an Iraqi refugee, Dr Muderis connected with Ghanim.
“While all my patients are important to me, Ghanim has made a particular impression, not just due to his courage and resilience but also because of the similar journeys we have taken,” said Al Muderis in the Australian Story episode.
With the complicated surgery and lengthy recovery, Muderis made a personal plea to immigration officials to allow Ghanim’s family to visit Australia and support him through the physically and emotionally trialling procedure. His family were thankfully granted visitor visas, being reunited with Ghanim after seven years.
Despite his medical outlook, Ghanim’s refugee status remains unclear. At the time of his accident, his application for a protection visa had been rejected but was under appeal.
Troy Mansell, friend of Ghanim, organised the special screening at UTS to help raise funds to help support Ghanim with his ongoing needs. He has also set up a GoFundMe page – This is Ghanim.
“Within this tragedy there has been these kind of silver linings of meeting wonderful people like Troy and his family and connecting more with the Iraq community and seeing how they’ve supported him. In the absence of his family who are now in Finland, he’s had other people step in and support him,” said Mark Isaacs, author of The Kabul Peace House and friend of Ghanim.
The ABC’s Australian Story episode, ‘What Doesn’t Kill You’, is available for Download here: https://www.abc.net.au/austory/what-doesnt-kill-you/11745904