– To what extent was you and your family's adherence to Islam a culture, an identity and a living, personal faith?

– My family are only nominal Muslims, like many people in our society. I had never been able to have a deep relationship with the God of Islam. Even though I prayed five times a day in Arabic language, my relationship with God wasn’t deep and intimate. I should add this important point that the only real and true God is the God of the Trinity, that is, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

– Which branch of Islam does your family observe?

– There are two main branches of Islam: Shia and Sunni. As far as I know, most of the Muslims in Iran are Shias. I was also born into a Shia family.

– In Islam, Jesus is considered to have been a prophet. What were the milestones of your spiritual journey in embracing him as your saviour and to Christian faith?

– When I was a Muslim, I was trying to have a relationship with our God called Allah, but I failed. Then I decided to get to know Jesus deeper. I bought a Bible from outside the country, and when I read about him in the New Testament, I gradually came to know that he is God. A few years ago, when I decided to get to know Christ, while browsing the internet, I accidentally came across a Persian Christian website titled Por Pasokh. All questions concerning Christianity are answered there, and for people who want to learn more about Christ, it is a good source. During this process, I realized that the Jesus that was introduced to me in Quran and Islam was wrong. He is more than a prophet. He is our Lord, our Saviour, the Son of the Heavenly Father. Then I converted to Christianity a couple of years ago in Iran.

– There are about a 100 thousand Christians in Iran. Were you in touch with any of their communities?

– There are three main Christian communities in Iran. The Armenian, the Assyrian Christians, and the ones with Islamic background. I have never met the last kind in Iran, because it is dangerous to say publicly that you were born a Muslim, and then converted to Christianity. But I met Armenian Christians, in Tehran they have a cathedral called Saint Sarkis, I visited that church several times.

– According to some reports, Muslims converting to Christianity may face death penalty in Iran. Could it be the case in your case as well?

– Fortunately, no. When I became a Christian in Iran, I did not join an underground church. In Tehran, I visited Armenian churches, but there was no institutional consequence of my personal decision to follow Christ. However, every time I had to fill out a form, for example, an application for passport, in the religion section I had to write Shia Muslim. If had written something else, for instance, Catholic Christian, the next day I wold have been arrested and probably be imprisoned.

– What did your family say when they learnt that you had become a Christian?

– At the beginning, they were mad at me, saying I should have not converted to Christianity, claiming that our religion is the biggest and best in the world. I told them, I had found the right way, and I pray that one day they will also know Jesus Christ properly.

– Can you visit your home country without any problem?

– Yes, because I am not a refugee here, but a student, so I can go home whenever I want and then come back.

– You attend Avicenna International College in Budapest. What do you study there?

– I have been studying German language for a couple of months, and now I want to change my visa type for work permit, and work here.

– What do you want to work?

– The next month I want to start my own restaurant business in Budapest.

– You have been living in Budapest since January. What did you do, where did you live before, and what brought you here?

– I lived in Tehran, and a couple of years ago I had my diploma in mathematics. Before moving here, in order to get a passport, I had to do my military service. Then I decided to go abroad, and this is how I came to Hungary.

– Of all countries, why did you choose Hungary?

– I heard that Hungary is a beautiful and at the same time cheap country in Europe, with high quality universities and kind and friendly people.

– And why the Jesuits?

– I wanted to be baptised in a Catholic church, and one of my friends here, Abouzar, has a friend in Hungary, a Catholic sister. She told me she knows a Jesuit priest, Árpád Horváth, who speaks English very well and can help me. I met him several times, he helped me to get to know the Catholic faith deeper, so I came to know the Jesuits through him.

– Who is your godfather?

– A young guy from the community around the Jesuit church called Szepesvári Dániel. I met Dániel through Father Árpád in an English language group. And in the baptism, I was given Michael as my Christian name.

– Fr. Árpád wrote on Facebook that after you recited the Catholic creed in his church an the end of June, you were invited for a beer by some members of the community. Was it the first time that you drank beer?

– First of all, I should tell you that it was a great night for me with so many nice and welcoming people. As it is well known, in Islam, Muslims do not drink alcohol. But after I came to Hungary, I drank beer several times. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10,31)

– What is the next step? From Monday on, what will be different in your life?

– From Monday on, I will do my best to get to know the Catholic faith deeper, and would like to join a community in Budapest, preferably at the Jesuits. And, if I may, at the end of this interview, I would like to read a line from the New Testament, from Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians, verse 1, chapter 21: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Amen.