TL;DR
- Ramtin Zigorat, a gay Iranian refugee, was forced to watch executions in prison.
- He endured severe torture and was sentenced to multiple death penalties.
- His mother sold land to bribe officials for his release.
- Zigorat now lives in Spain but still suffers from nightmares.
- He advocates for others while healing from his trauma.
In a harrowing tale that exposes the brutal realities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Iran, Ramtin Zigorat, a gay Iranian refugee, has shared his traumatic experiences of being forced to watch executions during his imprisonment. Zigorat, who has been living in Spain for over six years, was arrested in Iran and spent 40 grueling days in a detention center where he faced unimaginable horrors.
“They were the worst days of my life,” Zigorat recounted, detailing the physical and psychological torture he endured. He was beaten, humiliated, and treated like an animal, forced to confront the grim fate that awaited him and others like him. “Every morning, they forced us to look out a window at the courtyard where they executed people so we would know how they were going to kill us. If we closed our eyes, they would beat us. I still have nightmares about that,” he said, his voice trembling with the weight of his memories.
After being sentenced to multiple death penalties on dubious charges, including accusations of being a spy and spreading “homosexual diseases,” Zigorat’s situation seemed dire. However, his mother, in a desperate act of love, sold off her land to pay bribes for his release, though it came with the condition that he remain locked in their home for two years. Tragically, she passed away from cancer shortly after, leaving Zigorat to navigate his freedom alone.
Eventually, with the help of other family members, he managed to escape Iran and find refuge in Spain. “I feel well taken care of in Spain,” he said, expressing gratitude for the support he has received. Yet, the scars of his past remain, as he continues to grapple with the nightmares that haunt him. “But here they take care of me, and through my work, I try to take care of others,” he added, emphasizing his commitment to activism and helping others who have faced similar struggles.
Zigorat’s story is a stark reminder of the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights in many parts of the world, especially in countries like Iran where persecution is rampant. His resilience and determination to advocate for others in the LGBTQ+ community shine through, as he uses his experiences to raise awareness and inspire change. In a world where many still face violence and discrimination, Zigorat’s voice is one that demands to be heard.