A journalist's journey: From Nova Scotia to the front lines in Afghanistan
Sitting at his computer overlooking Halifax’s Northwest Arm, Matthieu Aikins types out his thoughts.
The 38-year-old journalist, who is originally from Nova Scotia, is piecing together more investigative stories he gathered in Afghanistan for The New York Times.
“We're actually still able to get access to the country for now,” Aikins said. “So I think it’s really important to keep the spotlight on what’s happening.”
His work published during the past 18 months is getting a lot of attention.
When the Taliban took over in the summer of 2021, Aikins was in Kabul.
Days after a deadly attack at the Kabul airport, a U.S. military drone missile hit a vehicle and killed Zemari Ahmadi and his family – including seven children.
By gathering footage and interviews at the scene, Aikins and his team at The New York Times exposed how U.S. officials thought the vehicle was carrying a bomb and posed an imminent threat to troops at the airport, but Ahmadi was actually an innocent aid worker.
“We were able to prove that with some video evidence and eventually the military had to apologize and admit that they had killed those innocent people,” Aikins said. “That was a moment when you were at the right place at the right time and able to make an impact.”
The New York Times’ video investigation won a Pulitzer Prize in international reporting, as well as an Emmy.
But Aikins’ book published last February, which documents Afghan migrants’ underground journey to Europe, is also receiving a lot of attention.
Time Magazine and The Economist listed “The Naked Don’t Fear The Water” as a must-read for 2022. It’s now being translated into nine languages.
It’s a story of friendship and love but also hardship and risk as Aikins goes undercover posing as an Afghan refugee to follow his friend – who he calls Omar – on the underground route out of Afghanistan to Europe.
Despite working as an interpreter during the war in Afghanistan, Omar didn’t have the documents he needed to get a visa to leave. Instead, he decides to cross illegally through Iran, Turkey and Greece in the hopes of eventually returning to Afghanistan for the woman he wants to marry.
“There's no guarantees when you're putting your life in the hands of criminals, smugglers,” Aikins said.
“But at the same time, you have to. I mean for Afghans who have the worst passport in the world when it comes to being able to travel without visas, they can't leave their country. They can't get visas, especially now because there’s not really any western embassies working in the country.”
The harrowing journey took more than three months and meant trusting smugglers with their money and lives.
“You’re prey, not just for smugglers who might kidnap you, but for border guards,” Aikins said.
The two crossed a portion of the Mediterranean in a small inflatable boat packed with other people only to end up in a crowded refugee camp on the Greek Island of Lesbos where most migrants found themselves stuck.
As Aikins observed and wrote about his experience, he was struck by the migrants’ courage and willingness to put up with unimaginable situations to secure a better future.
“Mothers with their children trying to keep their kids healthy in disgusting camps that are set up by the European Union,” he said.
“How they did it with so much dignity. And even humour.”
Omar and Aikins both did eventually get to Europe’s mainland after many twists and turns.
“The book is not just a story of misery and suffering. There’s a lot of moments of beauty even and love certainly,” Aikins said.
Matthieu Aikins can be reached on Twitter or on his website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.