“Any cars parked in that car park means they are going to Italy. So when I got myself into the car park I hid myself under the axle [of a lorry] in a metal box used for storing equipment.

“The box was tiny – it felt like I was inside a coffin.

Shahin Portofeh is now living in Manchester

“After a few seconds I find [the lorry] has gone inside the ferry, it’s gone on board.

“I was waiting, waiting, just to see what is going to happen. It was really cold and painful laying down, not moving, not making any noise, sounds in case any ferry staff see or hear me.

“The lorry drove off the ferry but I cannot get out (of the box) unless it is parked.

“I wait for everything to settle down then I get out of the box and I find by the signs and writing that I am in Italy.” (more…)

An asylum seeker who was deported to Iran in 2004 has been describing how he managed to escape from custody and make his way back to the UK. In part two of this three-part series, the BBC News Website takes up Shahin Portofeh’s story from the point he escaped custody in Iran.

“Ten times the National Security Agency people raided my mum’s house searching for me.

“They showed a letter (to my mother).

“They’d got an order from the judge that if I didn’t hand myself to the government, they… are allowed to shoot me.” (more…)