My parents were both teachers and I was very successful at school in Iran. I wanted to learn musical instruments during my childhood as my father had played the saxophone when the Shah ruled Iran, but after the Islamic revolution this was not allowed. I learnt to play music ‘underground’.
When I was 14 my mother died. This was a great shock to me. I took refuge in music, poetry and drama. I began to question religion and some articles I wrote just for friends when I was 15 were found by the Revolutionary Guards and I was arrested, tortured and lashed. In my 20’s I was arrested again and sentenced to death - but my family paid off the judge and I went to prison instead.
The years in jail created many problems for me and when I came out I turned to drugs. In 2009 I was imprisoned again and after my release I was banned from working anywhere. When I heard that the Government was seeking to reinstate my death sentence I fled the country and was accepted as a refugee in the UK in December 2014. When I arrived in Newcastle I trained as a barber and joined the Crossings Community Group and Band where I am free to play music.
I have many problems but I am safe here and have good friends. I miss my family but at least they are also safe now I am not there.