Ali is from the city of Najaf in Iraq. He was a lecturer at the University of Kufa from 2011 to 13. During that time, he took a stance against the interference of militias in the university community. The militias got wind of this and mounted attacks on him. Ultimately, the university distanced itself from him, and refused him full-time employment. Ali’s supervisor told him about CARA, the Council for At-Risk Academics in the UK. CARA provides sanctuary to academics at risk and their families arranging safe passage for them and their families, and finding them employment in research institutions. They arranged for Ali and his family to come to the UK to study for his PHD.