’They Put Me In A Closet & Beat Me’: Zarith on his journey to safety & freedom in the UK

Zarith speaks to Rich Clarke about surviving violence, secrecy, and state-sanctioned homophobia... and the long road to finding safety in the UK.

Raised in South East Asia, Zarith always knew he was different. But silence felt like the only option in a country where being gay was illegal and the AIDS crisis fuelled fear and stigma. At his elite Islamic boarding school, he was outed, assaulted, and blackmailed by fellow students. Even then, he hid the truth to protect himself and his family.

Years later, as a journalist, he exposed political corruption, putting himself in even greater danger. After a close friend and fellow gay journalist was kidnapped and killed, Zarith fled. He now calls the UK home, having rebuilt his life through the asylum system.... and finally, lives freely.

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