Tilak
Tilak is of Indian nationality from Kashmir whose family has repeatedly suffered abuse from the military. His father acquired the services of Mr. KB, an smuggler, to arrange Tilak's escape.
He travelled alone from New Dehli to Africa, not knowing in which country he had landed. Upon his arrival, a man was waiting for him. He was taken along with others to a building and was told that they were in Conakry.
"I stayed there for eight months, doing nothing. We couldn't go out, we were imprisoned and they just gave us food."
One day they were told that they were finally going to continue on with their journey. At the coast they boarded a small boat which after around 3 hours dropped them at a bigger boat.
After being at sea for about a month, they were intercepted by the Spanish border guards and taken to Mauritania, where they were placed in a big pavilion. The Spanish officials advised them to return to their home countries. Those who agreed to go back had their travel expenses covered by the Spanish authorities. However, Tilak refused.
"I didn't want to go to my country of origin because I feared for my safety."
Tilak remained in Mauritania for about seven months together with nine other people. Six of them were subsequently taken to Spain. The other four, including Tilak, were admitted in Portugal in July 2007. He claimed asylum there and was granted humanitarian protection.
(Source: Portuguese Refugee Council)