The wild plots of Iranian dissident hunters
Briefly

Mohammad Rezaie, who served 17 years in Iran's naval services, defected in 2017 to avoid being sent to fight in Syria. Despite escaping 1,500 miles away to Turkey, he struggles emotionally and financially. He often feels the regime's lingering presence, which causes heightened vigilance. On one night in Yalova, he sensed danger when he was followed by suspicious vehicles, highlighting his ongoing fears post-defection. His daily life is marked by loneliness, reliance on antidepressants, and the consequences of rejecting military orders from the Iranian government.
Despite being 1,500 miles away from Iran, former naval officer Mohammad Rezaie continues to feel the regime's shadow as he navigates his new life in Turkey.
Since defecting from Iran, Rezaie has struggled with loneliness and financial instability, finding himself reliant on antidepressants in his new reality.
Read at The Verge
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