Exiled for Love
The Journey of an Iranian Queer Activist
La description
A fast-paced memoir of Arsham Parsi, a queer Iranian activist forced to flee his country under threat of execution.
Exiled for Love follows Parsi’s incredible journey from his first understanding of his sexual orientation to his eventual exile. Iran’s harsh Islamic code of Lavat is used to execute gay men, and LGBT individuals who avoid execution are often subjected to severe lashings, torture, and imprisonment. It was in this unforgiving environment that Arsham Parsi came to terms with his identity as a gay man. After a close friend committed suicide after his family learned he was gay, Arsham used the anonymity of the Internet to speak out about the human rights abuses against LGBT people in his country. In 2005, Parsi learned that an order had been issued for his arrest and execution. He was forced to seek refuge in neighbouring Turkey until, thirteen months later, he was granted asylum in Canada.
Reviews
“The eye-opening, insightful, moving and unique story of Arsham’s amazing personal journey as an Iranian gay man — a very different, more perilous journey than that of the average western gay person.” – Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation
“An insightful journey into the life of one of the — if not THE most — tireless, effective and acclaimed advocates for Iranian queer refugees … serves as an engaging doorway into a deeper understanding of our queer brothers and sisters who are forced to flee simply because of whom they love.”
- Gilles Marchildon, former executive director of Egale Canada
“An insightful journey into the life of one of the — if not THE most — tireless, effective and acclaimed advocates for Iranian queer refugees … serves as an engaging doorway into a deeper understanding of our queer brothers and sisters who are forced to flee simply because of whom they love.” – Gilles Marchildon, former executive director of Egale Canada
“The eye-opening, insightful, moving and unique story of Arsham’s amazing personal journey as an Iranian gay man — a very different, more perilous journey than that of the average western gay person.”
- Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation