Iranian asylum seekers who have been moved to live in South Holland have spoken of how they’re trying to rebuild their lives in this country.
The married couple in their 30s were suddenly brought to the area two days before Christmas.
Both devout Christians, they say they fled the country after they were found practicing the religion in the family shoe shop they owned and worked at in the predominantly Muslim country’s capital Tehran.
While being a Christian is not illegal in Iran, converting from Islam is and according to the charity Open World, Iran is the ninth most dangerous country to practice the religion in the world.
The couple are now waiting to see if they will be deported back to Iran where they say they would face the death penalty.
Both would like to give back to the community, but they’re not able to get a work permit so can’t do a job.
Instead they’ve thrown themselves into volunteering with the charity Boxes of Hope which started by sending aid to Ukraine and also helps those in need in the local area.
“Life in Iran has many problems for me and my wife,” said the man. “There have been more attacks against Christians in recent months.
“They found out there was a ‘house church’.
“Someone informed us, but unfortunately some of our friends were arrested.
“After the authorities came some of our friends were taken.
“They’re probably killed and the bodies not handed over to their families.
“We decided to run from Iran.”
As part of their escape eight months ago the pair walked for two days over the Elburz Mountains to get into Turkey.
There they were met by people traffickers who demanded they give everything of value they had to be transported to another country.
They spent 17 days packed in with “15 to 20” other people in a “dark and cold” lorry with no idea where they were, before being put in a boat that broke down in the English Channel to get into a small boat with 60 others.
They feared for their lives when the boat broke down and had to be rescued by the police.
“It was really bad,” the man said. “It was so packed we couldn’t move.
“People were on top of each other.
“Everything on the boat was broken.
“Gasoline had spilled on the bottom of the boat. The smell bothered us.
“We hadn’t eaten well in weeks and hadn’t slept in a long time.
“It gave us a feeling of happiness and sadness when we were told we were safe by the nice police as we could know we can no longer return to our own country. I cried.”
The man also said while it wasn’t nice going through all the border checks and the process he understood the need for border officials to look into them.
“They don’t know who we are,” he continued. “Some are not safe people who create danger.
“They have the right to ask everyone questions.”
The pair were housed at Stoke Rochford as they await a decision on whether they will be deported.
When that closed, they were given a day to get ready to move before being dropped off at a South Holland home on December 23.
On both occasions they weren’t told where they were going.
“I just wanted a safe country,” the man said. “If I had a choice I’m not sure if I would have chosen the UK.
“I’m OK here, but my wife doesn’t like the cold.
“For us, wherever in the world, even if it’s the best place in the world, it’s not our home.
“We grew up there and felt good there.
“We didn’t feel good here for the first few days.
“We felt dumb and didn’t know what to do as we didn’t know anyone.”
The pair had been referred to Boxes of Hope to get cooking supplies where they met Mandy.
As she helped them, they’re now looking to help Boxes of Hope as much as possible while waiting.
“It’s a beautiful thing Mandy is doing and helping other people.
“My wife and I decided to participate in this wonderful work.
“Because of it we’re better off than before. It’s better when we’re busy.
“Our thoughts are busy with other things and we’re not allowed to think about what has been previously.
“So many bad things are happening in our country, even to our own family.
“We just have to wait to see if we’ll be sent back.
“It’s very bad.
“The issue of what will happen to me in the future is a big torment for me.”
Both say they’ve been welcomed into the Christian community in South Holland.
“We’d never experienced the community of Christ like this before,” the man continued. “In Iran it’s only a few friends gathered in small rooms to pray together and read the Bible.
“It is truly unique to us seeing community worship here. They’ve been brilliant with us and we’re learning new things from them.”
The man is also a documentary maker who has made documentaries for TV in Iran.
He’s currently attempting to make a documentary using the phone he’s been given to keep in touch with the Home Office after the phones they previously had were taken by the people traffickers when they left Iran.
He is looking at ways to get proper videoing equipment.
l The pair were happy for their names to appear in the newspaper but not online as they say authorities in Iran are already targeting family members. Because The Voice goes online in full though we’ve taken the decision to not publish their names.
