HIV-positive Turkmen man fears deportation, torture
He then found a job in a territory in Europe that is not internationally recognised.
To avoid compromising his safety and that of his relatives back home, AFP has chosen to keep his exact location secret, but was able to interview him in person in July.
The 30-year-old said he tested positive for HIV in 2024.
He showed the results of medical lab tests, which AFP was able to authenticate, and said he had no access to antiviral treatment.
"My condition is getting worse. My body and stomach are hurting, I have pain under my ribs," he said.
"I can't sleep anymore, I sleep four or five hours, thinking about my health every day. I don't want to get AIDS," he added in a faint voice.
Mortal threat
Because of his HIV-positive status, Emir said he had been fired from his job in his current place of residence, lost his income, and now faces deportation to his home country.
In Turkmenistan, he said, he would be arrested: "Because of my illness, they will torture me, abuse me, and kill me."
Emir is unable to leave the place where he is now because he would have to first return to Turkmenistan to renew his passport, a photograph of which he provided to AFP.
Swiss nonprofit Life4me+ sent him six months of antiviral treatment before stopping it due to the exhaustion of their "remaining medication stocks," the organisation's president, Alex Schneider said.
Emir then received a few irregular shipments of medication, but for almost four months now he has been without medication.
On three occasions, the health authorities in the territory where he is based have refused to provide him with treatment.
A local LGBTQ rights group said it was currently unable to provide Emir with the necessary medication for financial and legal reasons.
In an email to AFP, it said it had helped find Emir a psychologist who diagnosed him with "severe anxiety and depression symptoms with thoughts of suicide".
'Place forgotten by God'
In Turkmenistan, homosexuality is punishable by jail under the criminal code provision prohibiting "sodomy".
HIV-positive people, instead of receiving treatment, regularly find themselves imprisoned and tortured, according to several human rights groups.
The nonprofits and exiled independent media reported waves of arrests targeting LGBTQ people several times in recent years.
People detained as part of the repressions have been reported to disappear into the prison system and held incommunicado.
Turkmenistan -- a gas-rich desert country rich officially home to seven million people -- is considered one of the most reclusive in the world.
Internet access is severely limited, and no independent nonprofits are allowed to operate there.
"It's a place forgotten by God where people suffer terrible things," said Evi Chayka, founder of EQUAL PostOst, a rights group helping LGBTQ people who are victims of repression in the former communist bloc.
According to reliable sources familiar with the situation on the ground, speaking on condition of anonymity, the unrecognised territory where Emir is located does not have a "formal asylum framework" which prevents him from being taken into care by international bodies.
Stuck in the maze, the young man said he still hopes that someone will find a way to help him.
Even if, he added, "thousands of other people are suffering" throughout the world.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AFP
an hour ago
- AFP
Social media posts misleadingly describe lenacapavir as a vaccine
'UPDATE: WHO has approved Kenya to roll out the Lenacapavir injectable HIV vaccine. You will rush for this more than the one for Corona,' reads an English and Swahili Facebook post published on July 15, 2025. Image Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, taken on August 1, 2025 Similar claims were published here and here on Facebook. HIV breakthrough HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system by targeting white blood cells. These cells are essential in helping the body fight against infections and diseases (archived here). It is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids such as blood and semen from an infected person, and if left untreated, HIV can advance to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), the most severe stage of infection. At the end of 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 40.8 million people were living with HIV globally, with 65 percent of them in the WHO African Region. Administered as a twice-yearly injection and developed by Gilead Sciences, LEN represents a major advancement in the fight against HIV and was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on July 1, 2025 (archived here and here). Image Drugmaker Gilead manufactures lenacapavir (GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / JUSTIN SULLIVAN) During the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science in Kigali, Rwanda, this July, the WHO also endorsed the drug, issuing guidelines recommending it as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for people at high risk of HIV infection (archived here). PrEP is medication taken by individuals who do not have HIV but are at risk of contracting it. In case of infection, these treatments help the body stop the virus from replicating (archived here). Kenya was selected as one of the nine early adopter countries for the rollout of LEN, scheduled for January 2026. According to the country's health ministry, each dose is expected to cost 6,000 Kenyan shillings (about $46) (archived here and here). However, social media posts describing LEN as a vaccine are misleading. Not a vaccine According to its manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, LEN, marketed under the brand names Sunlenca and Yeztugo, is approved for two uses: as a treatment for adults who are resistant to other HIV treatments -- combined with other ARVs -- and as a PrEP option to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV (archived here and here). ARVs are used to treat HIV. They do not cure the virus but are a lifelong treatment that works by suppressing the infection to prevent it from progressing to AIDS (archived here). Kenya's director general for health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, told AFP Fact Check: 'Lenacapavir is not a vaccine. It is an antiretroviral medicine that prevents HIV infection.' This is different from how a vaccine affects the body. Vaccines train the immune system to recognise and fight specific pathogens before a person is infected. They do so by imitating an infection to trigger the body's natural defences. This helps the body identify the pathogen so it can respond quickly if exposed to it in the future, preventing disease (archived here). In contrast, ARVs like LEN are used to treat those already living with HIV or to prevent infection in the case of PrEP. These drugs work by blocking the virus at different stages of its lifecycle, and when taken consistently, they help control the infection and prevent transmission to others (archived here). 'Vaccines work by stimulating the body to produce antibodies against a disease,' Amoth said. 'Lenacapavir is a capsid inhibitor, blocking HIV from replicating by interfering with viral assembly and release, hence allowing the body to prevent new infections.' The capsid is the protein shell of an infectious virus that encases its genetic material. Capsids help viruses such as HIV survive. Drugs that are capsid inhibitors, like LEN, disrupt viral replication and protect the host from infection (archived here and here). Dr Andrew Mulwa, head of Kenya's National AIDS & STI Control Program (NASCOP), reiterated that LEN is not a vaccine. 'Lenacapavir, just like Cabotegravir, is an antiretroviral drug,' Mulwa told AFP Fact Check. Cabotegravir, marketed as Apretude and Cabenuva, was the first long-acting injectable PrEP that was approved by the FDA in 2021. It is administered as two initial injections four weeks apart, followed by an injection every two months (archived here). During his opening remarks at the IAS 2025 conference, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: 'While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk' (archived here). AFP Fact Check has debunked other HIV-related claims here.
France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
The Bright Side: Abidjan landfill transformed into city parkland
Beneath the fresh grass and brand-new infrastructure of Abidjan's Akouedo Park lie millions of tons of waste that for decades plagued locals' lives and health. Transforming landfill into recreational spaces – turning trash into landscaped treasure – has become something of a trend in recent years from New York to New Zealand. Abidjan, Ivory Coast 's bustling economic hub, has now enthusiastically got in on the act. For residents of this eastern neighbourhood, covering over a landfill area, opened in 1965 and closed in 2018, is a blessing. The new park spans some 100 hectares, affording the rapidly urbanising city of some six million people an all too rare green space. After five years of construction, the urban park is ready to open, though an official date has yet to be confirmed. The radical change of scenery is a boon as the previous dumping of hazardous toxic waste had been a source of health, environmental and safety problems. 'Good to breathe' "We suffered a lot," Celestine Maile, who has lived in Akouedo for more than 30 years, told AFP. Today, "it feels good to breathe", she said, beaming, taking a look around the transformed surroundings. "There were mountains of garbage, and underneath, water used to flow everywhere," she recalled, of how things once were. Along with the exposure to odours and pests, the landfill constituted "a major public health problem", according to a 2019 study, which Ivorian scientists conducted on the toxicological risks to people living nearby. 01:58 Its authors recommended the urgent "closure and rehabilitation" of the site, saying people living in the vicinity were "clearly exposed to poisoning from pollutants", including lead, mercury and carcinogenic chromium. Exposure to such pollution also helped give rise to conditions such as malaria, gastroenteritis and respiratory problems, the researchers said. "The garbage caused illnesses," stressed Maile, who said she suffers from eye problems linked to decades of living near the dump. Akouedo had also become a haven for drug dealing where assaults were common, she added. 'Cemetery' resurrected "That dump really felt like a cemetery," said Séverin Alobo, who heads the office of the traditional chief of the Akouedo district. For Alobo, the creation of Akouedo Park has brought "repair" to the neighbourhood. "The name Akouedo will no longer be associated with a landfill, but with a beautiful urban park," said Ivorian Minister of Hydraulics, Sanitation and Health Bouaké Fofana. "What was lost has been largely regained," he added. The minister said that 750 direct and indirect jobs had been created as a result of the project, which also includes a market, a middle school and the renovation of two kilometres of neighbourhood roads. Financed by the Ivorian government to the tune of 124 billion CFA francs ($221 million, 189 million euros), the overhaul also has an environmental component. The waste stored under the park will now be used for energy resources thanks to a drainage and capture system. Biogas and liquids resulting from the fermentation of the 53 million tons of accumulated waste are transported to a plant to be converted into electricity to power the park and part of the national grid. The park has an "Environmental House" too, which Fofana said would host events on contemporary environmental issues. Visitors will be able to play sports in the park, which includes a tennis court and two football pitches. There is also a large footbridge that winds through an embryonic tropical forest and shared vegetable gardens. Like many rapidly urbanising African cities grappling with the challenge of managing waste, Abidjan has found a new, bigger substitute for the Akouedo landfill. Long the city's only waste storage site, it has been replaced by one with four times as much storage capacity in the Abidjan suburb of Kossihouen.
Sustainability Times
20 hours ago
- Sustainability Times
'Donate Your Pets To Lions': Zoo's Shocking Plea Sparks Outrage And Heartbreak Across The Nation
IN A NUTSHELL 🦁 A Danish zoo has requested the public to donate unwanted small pets, such as rabbits, for its predators. 💬 The zoo defends the practice, citing the need to provide a more natural diet for their carnivores. for their carnivores. 🤔 Public reactions are mixed, with some questioning the ethical implications of using domestic pets as food. of using domestic pets as food. 🌍 This initiative may influence zoo feeding practices and policies worldwide. The recent initiative by a Danish zoo to invite pet owners to donate small, unwanted pets for predator consumption has sparked a global conversation. While many animal lovers express disdain at the idea of their cherished companions becoming part of the food chain, the zoo defends its policy as a commitment to animal welfare. This controversial practice raises questions about ethical zoo practices and the responsibility institutions have to mimic natural ecosystems. The Zoo's Controversial Request A Danish zoo has drawn international attention with its request for pet owners to donate unwanted small pets, such as hens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, for consumption by its predators. This initiative is not just about feeding the animals; it's an effort to replicate the natural diet of these carnivorous creatures. The zoo argues that offering prey animals with fur or feathers aligns with their mission to uphold animal welfare standards by simulating a more authentic food chain. The zoo's call to the public was made via a Facebook post, stating, 'In zoos, we have a responsibility to imitate the animals' natural food chain — for reasons of both animal welfare and professional integrity.' While this statement outlines their rationale, it has not shielded the institution from criticism. The ethical implications of using domestic pets as food, even if they are unwanted, remain a contentious topic. 'This Cat Saved My Life': Black Feline Leads Scientists to Hidden Human Virus That Could Rewrite Modern Medical Science Public Reaction and Ethical Concerns The public response has been mixed, with some expressing outright horror at the idea. A comedic yet telling comment from a woman questioned if children could be donated when they become troublesome, to which the zoo humorously replied that only animals with feathers or fur are accepted. This exchange highlights the unease and moral questions surrounding the practice. On the other hand, Pia Nielsen, the deputy director of the Aalborg Zoo, provided reassurance by explaining the commonality of this practice in Denmark. She emphasized the zoo's intention to give predators as natural a diet as possible, suggesting that many guests appreciate the opportunity to contribute. This stance, however, does not dispel the underlying ethical concerns about the treatment and use of domesticated animals. Scientists Stunned as Peacocks Found to Shoot 'Deadly Lasers' From Tails in Shocking Discovery That Could Change Everything About Nature Understanding the Zoo's Perspective From the zoo's viewpoint, providing a naturalistic diet to their predators is crucial. Nielsen reiterated that allowing animals that need to be euthanized to serve a purpose aligns with the zoo's mission. This not only reduces waste but also enhances the well-being of the zoo's carnivorous residents by providing them with food similar to what they would encounter in the wild. Despite this rationale, the practice challenges traditional views on pet ownership and the sanctity of domestic animals. Many pet owners find it difficult to reconcile the idea of their pets being used in this manner, regardless of the zoo's assurances of ethical practices. The discussion prompts broader questions about how we value different animal lives and the intersection of pet ownership and wildlife conservation. 'She Wasn't Supposed to Exist': U.S. Scientists Finally Confirm Spotted Supermom After 40 Years of Denial and Cultural Cover-Up Implications for Zoos Worldwide The Danish zoo's initiative may set a precedent or at least ignite discussions among zoos globally about how they procure food for their predators. The decision to accept unwanted pets as food sources could influence policies and practices in other institutions seeking to enhance animal welfare by mimicking natural diets. Moreover, this practice could lead to a re-evaluation of how zoos engage with the public in terms of conservation and education. By involving communities in the feeding process, zoos might foster a greater understanding of wildlife ecology. However, they must tread carefully to maintain public trust and ensure ethical standards are upheld. As zoos strive to balance animal welfare, ethical considerations, and public perception, the Danish zoo's practice invites us to ponder: Are we ready to redefine the roles of domestic animals in wildlife conservation, and what ethical boundaries should guide these decisions? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (28)
