Top Channel: Alireza Khajeloo is one of the Iranian political asylum seekers living in the Babrru camp. Although he has been in Albania for two months, he has found a gym where to practice. Ali is a karate, judo and MMA champion in Iran, Asia and Turkey.
“My name is Ali Riza and I was born in northern Iran. When I was five I was a very hyperactive kid and my father took me for karate lessons. I continued it because it is a sport that starts with respect and continues with respect. I slowly climbed higher levels until I received several medals in Iran, from Asia and Europe. In my country I also became coach of the National team. With eight sportsmen we won nine medals”, eh says.
Riza says that both of his parents died in very mysterious circumstances. The fact that his father was schooled in Israel put his family under constant pressure, despite the fact that he even trained the special forces of Iran. His future was destroyed for joining the opposition party of Mehdi Karubi against Ahmadinejad.
“My life in Iran has been very difficult. I was born in a time of an eight year war with Iraq and I have seen blood during my entire life. We are tired of this because Allah created us for seven days, without borders, without flags. He made people free. Only God has the right to take your life”, he explains.
Sport is the only thing he can offer to repay any country that would give him asylum, where, as he says, his life will end quickly.
“Eight years ago I moved from my country to Turkey, where I kept working with my sport and became champion of Asia. I was promised asylum if I won another title but it didn’t happen, so I was deported. After five years in Turkey I moved to Greece, where life is not very nice for Muslim people. I couldn’t find a single mosque. I had to pray often because I needed God. I have no one else besides him. But I had nowhere to go. In Greece I knew some Albanians. I had many students from Albanian who I was training in a fitness center. I also worked as bouncer and professional diver. But Greece is no good place for refugees”, he reminds.
After arriving in Albania two months ago, Ali Riza tells about his first impression in the Kakavija border >>>
Feel sorry for him, Albania who wants to live or stay there.