This time, I have taken this title from a book by Erich Fromm, which he wrote after he got back from USSR. At the heart of Fromm’s thesis is the notion that freedom is a diamagnetic force — by one pole, it compels us to escape to it, which Fromm calls positive freedom; by the other, it drives us to escape from it, a manifestation of negative freedom.
It is the story of our, Al’s and mine, escape from Iran. It is, as Erich Fromm might explain: the escape from “bad freedom to a good one”. Actually, I was asked by some dear friends to tell them about it, and here it is. I hope they would have a look at this story.
In the early 1980s, after the Islamic Republic established its power with closing down all the free activities and the free press, including the newspaper in which Al and I were working, it seemed to us that there is no chance to stay in Iran anymore. Of course, we wanted to try more and didn’t want to give up so easily. But as I mentioned lately in my earlier posts, we hadn’t the stamp on our ID papers and were not recognized in society, therefore couldn’t do any jobs to earn money. And also, I was the bad boy and one day had been arrested by the Islamic police. It took one week in jail and got a beating every day without any reason or lawsuit.
Al has, of course, given all the efforts to rescue me, and finally, with the help of one of our uncles, bribing the responsible Mullah with a notable sum, they could get me out of jail. In between, we had found out that we are both on the blacklist of the regime, and it’d be better if we could vanish immediately. We needed to get our passports, and a permission to travel or exit Iran which has costed also a few sums! After this, we had needed visas which we have got from a German friend in Iran, and we got them in the form of a business visa.
Everything looked alright, and we got the tickets and on the very day, we, with excited beating hearts, got through the transit. But the last step at the gate, the airport police got us out of the row and said we have to wait because there is something wrong with our Exit Permit. This Permission was signed by a Mullah, and we thought that everything had to be okay. But, as we’d found out later, he was arrested by another Mullah, therefore, his signature was not valid anymore! Anyway, first, they kept us in the departure hall, there came even the pilot personally and ask the police to let us get on board. But they refused it. The pilot was totally unfortunate and told us sadly that he had to fly now. And the aeroplane flew with our suitcases toward Germany. Then the police took us into a room, where we stayed for several hours.
Finally, in the late evening, the chief of the department came to us, said that he is very sorry for the circumstances, but now we are free and can go home! To ask any question was dumb, we have got our passports and went to a friend’s, we had no home anymore.
freedom in prison – symbolic 3D rendering concerning totalitarian systems
It was the beginning of our journey, which looked that failed. I was worry, not about our luggage which was rolling on the baggage conveyor belt in Düsseldorfer Flughafen, and nobody was there to pick them up. But I was concerned about another apprehend by the police. But just let to be continued. I tell you in the next part, have a safe and great weekend.
lampmagician 
Wow! Thank you for sharing more of yours and Al’s story. What extremely challenging times you lived through. I cannot imagine the alienation, pain and loss you must’ve both endured in order to leave the country and culture you and your brother were both born into.
You leave us with the image of your luggage on the conveyor belt in Germany … and so I wonder if your luggage was lost or did you reclaim it, and if so, what was that like … and how long did you have to wait before you finally left Iran? Ah, so many questions I know.
Hmm, I look forward to reading more of your story in due course. Love and light, Deborah.
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Wow, you are already inspiring me to continue 😅🤣🤣 in any case, you have shown me that it has worked 🤠👍 thanks dearest, it will be exciting as I remember 😊 thank you again my love. You are the beating of my heart ❤
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This is fascinating, Aladin. Thank you for sharing your story. I look forward very much to the next part. Jeanie
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Heartfelt thanks my lovely friend, of course, your words encouraging me a lot 🤗😊❤❤
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Truly inspiring Aladin! You and your brother experienced a world that was free to a world that became truly fascist much like Eastern Europe and the old USSR.
Today we are quickly moving towards fascism here in the West. Freedom is never free, we have to fight for it if we choose to keep it. Well done! Looking forward to part 2. Thank you for sharing you and your brother’s experience.
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I thank you so much for your kind and true words 🙏 it is really important, if we want to stay free, we have to fight always for freedom. You made my day dear friend, stay safe 👍🙏
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That must have been scary. I’m fascinated though and really looking forward to part two.
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Oh, thank you so much dearest Chris, that’s encouraging me a lot 😅🙏🙏❤
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A pleasure, always!
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Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
From Aladi with love…
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With my whole honourable love back to you, Master. You’ve made my day again. 🙏🙏🤗
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With my whole honourable love back to you, Master. You’ve made my day again.
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Wow! It’s hard to imagine, Aladin, but maybe not as hard after what’s happening in Afghanistan this week. It feels miraculous that you made your way out. I read this a few weeks ago in the midst of a bad bout with vertigo, but forgot to write a response. I’m sorry, because this is an important and heart-breaking post. I want to know about your life and now I know more. Maybe this week will continue the saga. I’m grateful you were with Al then and wish he were still here now. My life has been so protected and you make me appreciate that. Blessings and safety to you.
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I am so sorry for your trouble with vertigo, but thank you for the time you spent to write your kind words. I have actually written the second part of my story, you may have a look at the week after, anyway, it’s a hard time, and as you said, I wish Al were still here. Stay safe my dear friend 🙏❤
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I just can’t find words my friend, but I am glad you escape, to freedom.
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Thanks dearest Lara, your kind words are enough for fulfilling my heart ❤️ 🙏🌹🤗
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Because you share this, my heart opens more, Thank you!
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