Ireland welcomed me, but new rules mean my path is impossible to follow

Leaving Afghanistan after multiple death threats was the hardest decision I ever made, but it was also my only hope, writes Cork dentist Manizha Khan

Dr Manizha Khan: 'When a country offers us peace and dignity, we fall in love with it deeply. We might not look Irish on the outside, but our hearts learn to beat in rhythm with this land.'

Since 2021, December has taken on a new meaning for me. It was on December 7, 2021, that I entered Ireland as a programme refugee, and this year marks four years of a journey I never intended to make — a journey I was forced into.

December now comes with bittersweet memories. It is the month in which I lost my country, yet it is also the month in which I found sanctuary in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.