Seeking asylum is not the kind experience I could forget as a refugee – even after I received reliable immigration status. It is not pleasant to live with memories of the terrible details that pushed me to live in another part of the world, far from home. However, there are very personal and specific reasons that I have been unconsciously trying to forget about my past and about when I first came to the UK as an asylum seeker.
The many sides of asylum
I came from Iran to the UK in early 2009 when I was 30 years old. I had my job, family and friends in Iran. Though I was not a high profile person, I was involved in activities to help women become aware of their human rights as women, not just as Muslims. Unfortunately this was not acceptable in Iran; I was living in fear for my life so was forced to leave my country and all that I knew.
I believe that everything in life has different points of view for consideration. Coming to the UK to survive has been a blessing; however, I had to leave my family in Iran, which never makes me feel happy.
The right to freedom and equality
Although I was born in a country with no freedom, I have always tried to defend myself and others – and stand up for human rights in such a society. I felt that, in Iran, although there wasn’t a set lesson to identify what freedom was and what rights you were entitled to, people gradually understood the reality of freedom through their own experiences and challenges. Even so, there are people who are not aware of what their human rights are. That’s why it’s important to make people aware of their rights and freedoms. It hurts to see people struggling in life with lack of knowledge and security. Troublingly the Iranian Government has the power to unjustly put those who are against the regime in prison, torture, ban them or even kill them.
No one comes to this world by choice and people should not have to suffer for their beliefs and right to freedom. We must live equally.
The Refugee Convention – 60 years onward
This summer marks 60 years since the Refugee Convention was drafted – but it is excessively painful to know that in some parts of the world, like Iran, Libya, Tunisian Republic, Syria, China. Afghanistan and Iraq, people lack human rights and continue to struggle.
Admittedly when you arrive in the UK as an asylum seeker you are faced with many unlikely aspects of life, experience culture shock, home sickness, loneliness, depression and may lose confidence in yourself. But all of this is endurable when considering human rights, freedoms and the wellbeing that comes from living peacefully.
