Arman’s Freedom

Eager to escape a dark history in his home country, Arman arrives to Kuala Lumpur with a clear goal: complete a degree in journalism and escape to a life of freedom in the West. Meanwhile, his dreams are haunted by a dragon named Dahag, whose presence is a constant reminder of the shame he caused his parents in Iran, and his days are spent trying to make new friends while hoping they don’t automatically think he’s a terrorist. Arman’s worst nightmares come true, however, when he is found guilty by association in an attack on the Petronas Towers and promptly becomes the most wanted man on the planet. On the run, he is able to find temporary solace in both crowds and caves, but it seems that the forces at work since the Iranian Revolution, which so thoroughly destroyed his parents’ dreams, would bring a dramatic and crushing end to his as well. Until, that is, he comes across a mysterious man who promises he can help Arman get through the fire.

While this book is fiction, it began with a real life conversation the author had with a young Iranian many years ago about what had happened to him over the weekend. It was a dream that ultimately convicted him of sin and also included enough about Jesus to make him want to once again hear the gospel. There were many other conversations with Iranians who desperately longed for freedom from their oppressive government and were busily executing their plans to find long-term visas to other countries. He eventually learned to ask the question, “What is freedom?” in order to have deeper conversations about spiritual truths. The central character of this story is somewhat similar to the young man who had the dream and the theme of freedom comes from the multitude of conversations with Iranians, whose longing the author learned to feel as his own. The themes of this book are ultimately theological and what could be called “missiological fiction,” but don’t be misled into thinking it's a textbook. Get ready for a ride!