Brunswick Baptist Church Pastor Mark Payne shares the story of his brother-in-Christ, Saeid, a refugee from Iran who has journeyed to Australia through distressing circumstances and has been awaiting asylum for the past 13 years.
Saeid was just 23 years old when he was imprisoned in Tehran, after being caught holding hands with his girlfriend in a public square. Not long after this he was sentenced to 80 lashes for drinking alcohol with a friend. Like so many others in Iran, he suffered oppression and harassment at the hands of his government and religious officials.
Saeid made the unimaginable decision to flee Iran, leaving his family and his girlfriend behind. He wanted to seek refuge in Australia because he had heard it was a place where he could build a new life and seek his freedom. Freedoms like holding hands with a loved one or having a beer with a mate – simple freedoms that we take for granted. In 2013 Saeid flew to Indonesia in search of this new life, putting his life in the hands of people-smugglers.
“They took all Iranians out of the line and asked for bribe money so we could get our visa. We called **** and he gave the driver the address and we were taken to the Gateway – we stayed for about 22 days. I was taken to another hotel about 1 hour drive in the middle of the bush – it was a hut, there were nine people staying here, it was very secluded – we stayed one night.
In the middle of the night they took us to the shore in a van. This took 8 hours and was in dense bush. There were about 10 small fishing boats that took us to the large boat. The boat stopped because we had mechanical trouble at one stage. The skipper and the crew left after 8 or 10 hours in a small boat tied to the large boat. Three of the passengers drove the boat.
The smugglers told us we had to tear our passports when we got on the boat. After 3 days and 2 nights we were intercepted by the Australian Navy and taken to Christmas Island.”
Saeid began this perilous journey to Australia, in the middle of the night, on a rusty fishing boat. It was during the final months of our refugee policy known as the Pacific Solution, which was much criticised by Amnesty International and refugee rights groups. It is estimated that during the ‘Pacific Solution’ years, 2001 – 2013, 1,623 others who began the journey didn’t make it to Australia[1], lost at sea in their search for freedom. Thankfully, Saeid arrived in Australia in July of 2013 and avoided being ‘imprisoned’ (detained), in Manus or Nauru, which is Australia’s policy for those who arrive without a visa. He was instead sent to a detention centre in Darwin to be processed.
Eventually Saeid made it to Melbourne, where he would wait another 4 years to have his claim for asylum heard. Processed. Despite the lack of certainty Saeid didn’t want to waste this time, he was eager to begin his new life. On the recommendation of a friend, Saeid began attending his local Baptist church, just down the road from where he still lives today. There was a growing and thriving Persian group at the church exploring their spirituality and the newfound freedom they had found, not just in Australia, but in Christ Jesus. Saeid was baptised at the church in 2014 following his confession in Christ and formation in Christian discipleship.
At the church, the Persian community had the opportunity to learn English, share in hospitality, and study the bible. But they were also keen to share their own skills and hospitality. Every Persian New Year we are treated to an incredible Persian feast and are given the opportunity to learn about Persian culture and history. Saeid, among others, is always first to help out on a Sunday, or around the church during the week. He recently employed his incredible painting skills in restoring and painting our kids’ playroom. Over the years a number of our Persian members have served on the diaconate, as well as serving the church and wider community with their various skills and passions. They are an incredible blessing.
Saeid would eventually be called before Immigration and have his claim for asylum heard. It had been four years. In 2018 his claim was rejected and the appeal tossed aside, the claim being that his suffering in Iran was fabricated and that his conversion to Christianity was not legitimate. Processed. Despite the setback, Saeid didn’t give up. He knew that his claim was legitimate, and he also knew that many cases were being reviewed and overturned in the Federal Court. Everybody was concerned, including Saeid, that legitimate claims were being rejected. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal went through significant reform last year.
Saeid came to Australia seeking freedom 13 years ago. Instead of the new life he had hoped for, he found himself caught in the politicisation of refugees, from the controversial Pacific Solution to frustrating complications in our processing and appeals system. But during that time Saeid has never given up hope – the hope of freedom, and the hope he found in Jesus at his local Baptist church.
Saeid is still waiting for his day in court. Processed.
If you would like to support Saeid financially in his appeal you can donate here
For information about the ministry with asylum seekers and migrants at Brunswick Baptist Church email Mark at mark@brunswickbaptistchurch.org.au or visit their website.
[1]https://theconversation.com/factcheck-have-more-than-1000-asylum-seekers-died-at-sea-under-labor-16221