Help Ahmed & His Family Rebuild

A Family in Need of Compassion, Stability & Hope

The Church of Inner Happiness is sharing the story of Ahmed Al Bayati and his family, who are facing an extraordinarily difficult chapter in their lives.

Ahmed is an Iraqi physicist, researcher, husband, and father of two. He came to the United States with his wife and children in 2014 through an Iraqi government-sponsored scholarship to pursue his Ph.D. in physics.

Shortly after their arrival, conflict and instability in Iraq disrupted the financial support for Ahmed's education. Rather than abandon his studies and the future he was trying to build for his family, Ahmed continued his education while his family struggled through years of financial uncertainty.

Despite these challenges, Ahmed completed his Ph.D. in 2022.

His hope was to return to the scientific and academic work to which he had devoted much of his life. Instead, continuing immigration difficulties, mounting legal expenses, financial hardship, and a serious shoulder injury created even greater challenges for his family.

An Unexpected Crisis

On December 16, 2025, Ahmed was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

He remained in detention for approximately six months, separated from his wife and two children.

During that time, his family lost its primary source of financial support and had to depend upon the generosity of others and borrowed money for basic necessities.

Ahmed has since been released and reunited with his family, but his immigration proceedings remain ongoing.

At this time, Ahmed does not have valid employment authorization and therefore cannot legally work. His family currently has no stable source of income.

Helping With Immediate Needs

Ahmed and his family are seeking humanitarian assistance while they work toward stability and continue navigating the appropriate legal processes.

Support raised through Ahmed's GoFundMe may help his family with essential needs including:

Rent and housing expenses
Food and household necessities
Electricity, water, internet, and utilities
Transportation
Medical evaluation and treatment
Medical and dental needs for his wife
Immigration attorney fees and related legal expenses
Family financial obligations and accumulated debt
Stability and basic necessities for their children

Ahmed has made it clear that his goal is not to remain dependent upon assistance. He wants the opportunity to legally return to work, provide for his family, and eventually return to the scientific and professional career he spent decades building.

This Is Humanitarian Assistance

The Church of Inner Happiness is sharing Ahmed's story as an act of community compassion.

Contributions are voluntary humanitarian assistance. No employment, work, goods, spiritual services, professional services, or other consideration is provided in exchange for a contribution.

The Church of Inner Happiness is not employing Ahmed through this fundraiser.

Donations are made through Ahmed's independent GoFundMe campaign rather than as payment to Ahmed from the Church of Inner Happiness.

Every Contribution Can Help

For a family without stable income, even everyday expenses can become overwhelming.

A contribution may help put food on the table.

It may help keep the electricity on.

It may help pay the rent.

It may help Ahmed obtain medical treatment for his injured shoulder.

It may help his family continue obtaining legal representation while his immigration matter proceeds through the legal system.

Most importantly, it can give a family experiencing tremendous uncertainty a little breathing room while they work toward rebuilding their lives.

A Message of Hope

Ahmed has spent more than 25 years studying, teaching, researching, and working in science. He holds advanced degrees and has experience in areas including biophysics, atmospheric physics, optical sensors, biosensors, environmental physics, and materials science.

Behind those accomplishments is something much simpler:

A husband and father who wants to provide for his family again.

Ahmed's hope is to regain stability, become legally able to work, address his family's medical needs, and rebuild the independent life his family has worked toward for so many years.

If you feel called to help, please consider making a contribution through Ahmed's GoFundMe campaign.

If you are unable to contribute financially, simply sharing his story may help it reach someone who can.