REPORTER: Yalda Hakim
It's a happy moment for a family in the middle of a world wide controversy...
FERESTEH (Translation): He's the son of Ahmadinejad, he is bullying everyone, he pushes everyone aside and wants it all himself.
Mohammed Mostafaei and his family have defied the regime in Tehran.
FERESTEH (Translation): He is like Mohammed, completely fearless, he will approach without fear. The others are scared - we throw food to them but this one comes forward to take what is his - well done.
In fear of his life, the 37 year old Iranian human rights lawyer was forced to flee Iran six weeks ago. His crime? Defending Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, sentenced to death by stoning for alleged adultery. As one of Iran's leading human rights defenders Mossafaei believes he's saved at least 50 people from execution.
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI, LAWYER (Translation): I have had cases, where for nothing and without committing a crime, my clients are languishing in prison.
Mostafaei is determined to continue his campaign to save his client from stoning - and tell the world about human rights abuses in Iran.
In this hotel - the family are giving four interviews all at the same time.
SOUTH KOREAN JOURNALIST: As a wife there must have been some hard times, what was the most painful?
FERESTEH: When I was in the jail I think it was the least painful part of my life, when I get out of the prison and see all of my life is changed forever maybe. You really suffer from this happening. When you speak about this, her memory goes back and he starts crying, he is still suffering from this happening in our life.
As we head back to their new home on the outskirts of Oslo, Mostafaei tells me that his media work is grueling - but worth it.
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): In Iran we don't have freedom of speech although Mr Ahmadinejad says we do. If freedom of speech existed in Iran, I never would have left. Freedom of speech doesn't exist. The thousands who have criticized Ahmadinejad's government or Islamic Republic over laws which violate human rights are now in prison.
There's a constant stream of international journalists even at their home.
Now the French have turned up, but without a translator, so I'm willing to help out.
FRENCH JOURNALIST: Why did they come down so hard on you this time?
REPORTER (Translation): She's saying that your wife says she wasn't ready to leave Iran like that and that you have represented others before Sakineh. Why did they react this way this time?
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): Because this time they arrested Freshteh, if they had not arrested Freshteh, I would not have left. They arrested her and I can say she was taken hostage.
Mostafaei is outraged over recent denials by Ahmadinejad that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was ever sentenced to stoning.
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): A person who lies in this manner, how could he be allowed to address the United Nations? How could he say that Sakineh Mohammadi was not sentenced?
He even showed me the very sentence handed down by the court in Iran, to prove his point.
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): I added this to my web site. Yes, about Sakineh Mohammadi. I think it was June. It says "Sakineh Mohammadi will be stoned to death soon."
Tonight there's a reminder of the life they've left behind, a phone call from home.
FERESTEH (Translation): Thank you Mariam, for calling us..
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): Say hello to everyone, sister, please call again. Yes, my phone was not working, can you call me. Say hello to mum and everyone
These are precious moments for a family that was unsure if they would ever see each other again. Mostafaei's wife, Feresteh, had been thrown into Tehran's notorious Evin prison...a clear attempt to entrap her husband.
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): By keeping her there, they could
have made me admit to anything. That has happened in many other cases.
Instead of submitting to the demands of the regime, he made a dramatic escape from the country on foot and horseback...
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): I was scared when I was riding the horse because I couldn't trust my guide. I had to go forward but it was hard, my body was badly abused. I had wounds on my body, but I got through all that and I reached Turkey.
When the Turkish authorities handed Mostafaei over to the United Nations and the Norwegian government , his wife was released...... and soon after joined him in Norway. But the memory of their escape from Iran is still fresh.
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): Why are you crying, my darling? You remember those days? It was upsetting then? Is it better now you're with Daddy?
FERESTEH (Translation): We're together now, Parmida! The events affected my daughter more than anyone else. If we talk about it, she still cries - recalling those memories upsets her.
But even here at the local Iranian grocer there is another reminder of their past, the shop keepers are Iranian Kurds who have also fled persecution.
SHOP KEEPER (Translation): I'm accustomed to this country but my heart bleeds for Iran.
FERESTEH (Translation): Really? Would you have trouble if you went back?
SHOP KEEPER (Translation): Let's see what happens with the government.
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): If Ahmadinejad is replaced, would you still not go?
SHOP KEEPER (Translation): If he leaves, the system would still be the same.
We don't believe in that system. We don't accept it.
FERESTEH (Translation): On top of everything else.
SHOP KEEPER (Translation): If there's a good system in place and the freedom we have here, the freedom we love and struggled to win, we'll return if we can have that.
Today Mostafaei's campaign takes him to Amnesty International who played a key role in his escape from Iran.
AMNESTY WORKER: Are you happy? I'm so happy for you.. every time I would see him, I would go, ohhhh, because his daughter is the same age as mine...
Amnesty fully understands the symbolic value of the Ashtiani stoning case... and Mostafaei's relentless campaign on her behalf.
JOHN PEDER EGENES, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: He can't anymore defend people in a court of law in Iran which is probably his most important way of influencing human rights in Iran... but second most important is to campaign on the outside, a very distinct and knowledgeable voice about what is happening in Iran.
While he's visiting Amnesty there's yet another interview with the press.
The strain of Mostafaei continually having to re-tell his story is starting to show.
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): And it's true that I was saved but I lost everything. I could have stayed in Iran and worked without getting involved with other people. I could have chased after money... chased after material things and not got involved. I could have not appealed. But I didn't do that. I didn't do that and this has caused me all these problems - now my family find themselves homeless.
Exiled but not unknown or forgotten.
MAN: Salam, Salam hello, I saw your interview on the BBC, it was nice, is this your wife, she is very pretty, what a beautiful woman - that's the only farsi I know...
Throughout my time with the family, there is a continual stream of well wishers...
FERESTEH (Translation): It takes away the feeling of loneliness. Yes, it's pleasant.
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): There are millions of Iranians living abroad. Those millions have been forced out, because of the terrible system we have in Iran, they're homeless. Because they can't return to Iran, many of them feel lonely. It's true we don't feel lonely at the moment but anyone separated from their home...
Exile is punishment in itself.
This exiled family may be separated from their homeland...but they can't stop dreaming of going back.
MOHAMMED MOSTAFAEI (Translation): I'm hopeful that the time will come when those outside our homeland can return to Iran without disturbance or concern. Foreign soil can never replace the soil of your own land, the place where you grew up, the place that holds so many memories for you.
FERESTEH (Translation): Hopefully everything will be all right. One has to struggle
to move forward. To move forward, our country must engage in struggle, the struggle of individuals like Mohammad.
GEORGE NEGUS: A hell of a guy, a hell of a family and the clearly multilingual Yalda Hakim filming and reporting there, well done. You may have picked up that the global campaign in support of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has prompted an unfortunate debate within Ahmadinejad's leadership in Tehran. They are now arguing about whether she should die by stoning for adultery or be hanged for murder. What do you call that? Catch 33 maybe.
Reporter/Camera
YALDA HAKIM
Producer
VICTORIA STROBL
Editor
NICK O'BRIEN
ANGUS FORBES
Translation/Subtitling
NASIBA AKRAM
Original Music composed by
VICKI HANSEN
3rd October 2010