has
described torture and beatings after he was found in Iran with a stock of anti-regime literature.
Scottish Wrestling Team member Masoud Yosefi, 25, described his flight from his home in Iran and his torture at the hands of the paramilitary in an interview with the Aberdeen Evening Express.
He said: “I can never go back to Iran, it is too dangerous for me.”
Masoud is now recovering from a serious car smash a few weeks ago while on his way to compete for Scotland in Romania.
The wrestler now teaches wrestling to Scottish youngsters at Laura’s Gym in Oldmeldrum.
He said: “I started wrestling when I was 10. At 11 years old I was a champion for my country.”
Life seemed good until a friend gave Masood a box for safe keeping. The box was seized by the authorities who found it contained anti-government material.
“I was taken to a house,” said Masoud. “They handcuffed my hands and legs. For 50 days I saw no one. They cut me, my neck, my head, my shoulders. All the time they tortured me.”
Masoud, who was just 19 at the time, was eventually released but decided to flee Iran, crossing the Turkish border through the mountains one night to dodge border police.
He eventually arrived in Scotland in 2008 and declared himself to immigration officials.
Masoud suffered severe head, face, arm, leg and rib injuries in the crash earlier this year, and will not be fit to wrestle for another year.
But Scotland team manager John Keogh said: “He is still part of the team. We will support him in his bid to gain British citizenship.”
