Meet a hero.

I think it is quite a story, and he had to endure a lot of things because of his beliefs. I also think that it put s all of those anti American statements by American's who hate our country and are not proud to be here until just recently into perspective. I think most Americans take freedom for granted, while forgetting that there are places that are not free, and people have to endure much just because of the things they say. I think every American should be damn proud and thankful to be here, and if they are not, then they can always go elsewhere... like Europe or even Iran. Maybe then they will find the type of government they really want. Meanwhile... this hero makes them look pretty bad in comparison.

He is indeed awesome and yet another proof that people can become what they want to be, not what their religion or state wants them to be. There are many like him strewn all over the globe protesting in some form or the other, some become famous other fade into oblivion. His story brings to my mind the condition of Myanmar in our immediate neighbourhood, where conditions are no less worse than in these muslim nations. Very recently, many Buddist monks were actually gunned down for protesting against the military that runs that nation…wonder why there is not much international hue and cry and pressure from the west on the military regime there!

What this story tells me is that the Iranian do not like the way they are being ruled. Maybe if these people had some out side support they could overthrow their country. I remember reading about how the Iranian government was outlawing the Barbie doll because it was western propaganda. Maybe with we start my Operation Barbie we could see change in Iran. What my Operation Barbie calles for is a massive airdrop of Barbie dolls. Then we could start introducing them to other western things like I do not know books.

Is he an illegal immigrant now? I'm afraid it's getting bad for Muslim Apostates in the West too. http://www.islamist-watch.org/article/746 I'll pray for him and would love to learn more about him.

Wow. It is actually incomprehensible to personally understand how anybody can have such a strong will to be able to persist the way this man has done. Some people are put on this earth to serve a specific purpose and maybe, just maybe he is a shining example of this. His entry into the USA will hopefully allow him to prove to the world that the pen IS mightier than the sword and he can actively work to battle oppression in his homeland without fear of persecution. Stories like this certainly put the things that we as free people generally complain about into perspective! Could this man end up being the Iranian equivalent of Nelson Mandela? Time will tell and anything is possible when you have a heart and an ambition for change as strong as this man! Thank you for sharing it.

Wow, that is an amazing story to say the least. I am not sure just how many people would have such strength as he did. I am sure that he does not see himself as a hero though many others do.

This is an awesome story. I admire Mr. Batebi both for his courage to protest an unjust government and his endurance to support those who had protested with him by not turning them in even under extreme torture. I think the US government should listen to this man for his views on Iranian society and its leaders. He can offer a great deal of insight into the workings of that country as ours attempts diplomacy or possibly even military action to control Iran's terroristic aspirations. He has definitely earned the right to be heard and I hope the powers that be will listen to him and others like him.