Iranian athlete seeks refuge in Leeds
An Olympic athlete from Iran has fled the country and is seeking asylum in Britain.
Hamed Sabri Dashti is an international boxing and kick-boxing champion who was chosen to represent his country at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
He has fled Iran, leaving behind family, including his parents. He has also left behind friends and the two gyms that he ran.
Mr Dashti now lives in Leeds – and wants to represent Great Britain as a boxer.
He said he fled his home country after suffering beatings at the hands of Iranian police at his gyms where women exercised and wore western clothing and western music was played to accompany exercises.
He is being assisted in Leeds by the Refugee Council and is learning English.
Speaking through an interpreter, he told the YEP: "I ran two fitness gyms in Iran and wanted to stay.
"But secret police came every day and made trouble, asking why were women there dressed in western style? Why were we listening to music? They said it was against Islamic law. They said it is the music of Satan.
"Sometimes they would break windows and beat people. They attacked me several times, hitting me with batons. They damaged my knees."
He said: "I had the energy and skills to fight with seven police if I wanted to, but it would have brought big problems for us if I had."
He arrived in Britain in February and applied for asylum.
He had left behind all his trophies and medals but he still has treasured photos and his Olympic team card.
Although he was chosen for the 2004 Olympic team the Iranian authorities did not let him go, partly because he did not have a beard.
"I have won competitions in cities all over Iran, and also in Malaysia, Turkey, Syria, Belarus, Armenia and Ukraine," he added.
In addition to his gyms he worked as a maintenance engineer for Iran airlines.
As an asylum seeker he is not allowed to work in Britain. He wants to use his position as a well-known athlete in Iran to campaign for democracy there.
"I woulds also like to box for the British team," he said.
Charlotte Cooke, Refugee Council Head of Operations in Yorkshire and Humberside, said: "His story reminds us that people who come to the UK fleeing persecution leave a huge amount behind.
Posted: Friday, May 16, 2008
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