‘Risking my life to avoid persecution by Iranian government’
HULL CITY OF SANCTUARY: KARIM’S DANGEROUS JOURNEY TO HULL
HULL has around 500 refugees or asylum seekers seeking a new life in the city.
Each one has fled their homes in far-flung places due to war, persecution and upheaval which has left them fearing for their lives.
Many have left loved ones behind and some have undergone dangerous and arduous journeys to get to the UK.
The Mail visited Welcome House in the city centre which provides much-needed practical and emotional support to those who have arrived in the city with very little.
We spoke to many people there who told us about their plight.
We will be sharing those stories each day this week giving an insight into how their lives have been turned upside down and their determination to start afresh.
It has been a year now since Karim Navasseri arrived in Hull from Iran.
I feel comfortable and I hope to really start rebuilding my life here Karim Navasseri
His story is a familiar one – fleeing his home due to persecution from the government.
Iran is a complex and volatile country in a geopolitical sense which was why Karim, 34, was forced to seek asylum in the UK.
“I was forced to flee the country and came over to the UK by boat,” he said.
“It was dangerous and I had a problem with the government as they do not seem to like Arabs.”
Iran is largely made up of Persians with only around two per cent made of up Arabic speakers.
“I had no possessions and arrived here alone,” Karim said.
“I was initially put in a hotel in Newcastle before I came to Hull.”
Karim has done his best to settle in Hull and heard about Welcome House after a couple of days of being here.
“I really like it here and it has helped me settle,” he said.
“I enjoy my time here and the social aspect of it all and I have started to volunteer here as well.
“There are other people here I can relate to who have been through a similar experience even though we are all from different countries.
“I feel comfortable and I hope to really start rebuilding my life here.”
Iran has a rich history and was previously known as Persia.
Between 1951-1978, Iran had close ties with the US and was a secular state but it was riddled with corruption.
This led to the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and it became an Islamic state.
Over the next several years the government fought off several uprising in a brutal manner while also being involved in a war with neighbours Iraq.
In 2002, Iran was named as one of the axis of evil by George W Bush alongside Iraq and North Korea and there have been deep concerns about its nuclear programme.
In the last few years Iranian protests swept across the country which have sparked blood crackdowns.
The country has a very poor human rights record with a very repressive attitude to the media with broadcasting all state-run.
Homosexuality is banned and is punishable by death while there is discrimination and violence against women. Torture is also reported to be widespread.
Discrimination is also widespread against ethnic minorities, including Arabs as mentioned by Karim.
Hull was declared a City of Sanctuary in 2017 at Hull Minster when Hull hosted the UK National Celebration of World Refugee Day.
The City of Sanctuary initiative recognises places which are proud to welcome and offer safety
and sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.