Akbar

"I am a master of martial arts but here I am defenseless."
Akbar Gholami, 42, who trained as a radiologist, was imprisoned for his political activities on behalf of Kurdish rights in his native Iran nearly a decade ago. He says he was tortured for 45 days. Gholami fled to Greece in 2004, and was later recognized as a refugee. He is now living in Athens with his wife, who escaped after him with their daughter, 9, to whom he is particularly devoted. She possesses a wisdom far beyond her years, he says. Akbar is frustrated at not being able to practise medicine and wants to move to a country where he can use his skills. "I am a radiologist but I paint. How can you compare these two? I am a master of martial arts but here I am defenseless."

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