PARHAM ALIZADEH
- Parham Alizadeh (he), 40; singer, songwriter, vocal coach.
- Iran -> Turkey -> Germany
- 14 July 2023
- My homeland is no longer safe for me. During the 'women-life-freedom' revolution, I was involved in strong (against-government) activities, both on the streets and on social media. Part of my activism involved collecting financial aid for families whose breadwinners had been arrested. Additionally, for the past six years, I have been deprived of artistic work and prohibited from performing live in Iran. Following the arrest of members of a political and advocacy group I was associated with in Iran, I fled to Turkey. Subsequently, security forces abducted and detained several friends and group members from their homes overnight.The remaining group members contacted me and urged me not to return due to the dangerous circumstances. Turkey rejected my one-year residency request, and my visa applications for several other countries were also denied. Finally, I arrived in Germany.
- I love meeting new people and experiencing different situations, but honestly, my heart yearns for a space that truly feels like home.The language, culture, friends, family, and even my beloved pets—all the things that are dear to me.What I mean is that I am almost 41 years old, and it seems like everything I have worked hard for during these years has vanished. It feels like there is no place for me, neither in my own country nor elsewhere. I'm determined to overcome this. I'm both a fighter and an artist, and I need to find a balance. I have achieved that before on several occasions.
- I feel a bit lonely, but I can endure it. There is less support for men, especially for Iranians, and we are expected to be brave and strong. I practice it every day. I can do this on my own. I have to do it. The matter of fighting is about victory or confronting anything.
- Do I think about returning? Yes and no. Not under this government. Some members of my family are in Iran, and some are in the United States. However, sometimes I think that if the possibility of returning existed, I would choose a small town and spend the rest of my life in peace. The dilemma is that I can't turn a blind eye to the suffering of my people and all the individuals who are enduring hardship. The problem is that I can't turn a blind eye to the suffering of my people and all the individuals enduring hardship. I deeply empathize, and it often leads me to forget about myself. Then I see myself destroyed.I am taking steps towards improvement, but this cycle repeats itself.
- Two of my sisters went to the United States about 10 years ago. My aunts relocated—one to the United States and the other to France. My great grandmother came to Iran from Russia at the age of 10 after the communist revolution. Her father was Azerbaijani, and her mother was from Moscow. Part of my maternal family is still living in Azerbaijan, while the rest is relatively unknown, and some members are likely in Russia. On my father's side, my family moved from the Azerbaijan province in Iran to Tehran. This is the extent of our family's migration history.
Iran: Parham Alizadeh - Hot South
France: Charles Aznavour - La bohème
Russia (folk song): Korobeiniki
USA: Dishwalla - Angels or Devils
