Oslo, Norway (CNN)  -- To escape Iran, Mohammad Mostafaei traveled for more then 10 hours on foot and on horseback over the mountains, crossing the border illegally into Turkey. Soon afterwards, he ended up in a detention center for illegal immigrants in Istanbul, where he was incarcerated for nearly a week. After several surreal and sometimes dangerous weeks, Mostafaei's journey appears to finally be over. He now strolls the tidy, rain-soaked streets of Norway's capital, safe from the Iranian security forces who he claims targeted him. But Mostafaei is far from at ease. "I don't like to be a refugee, nor do I like to work abroad," he says. "My love is to remain in Iran and help people who somehow have been oppressed whether by society or by the law or by the judicial system. But regrettably, I became a victim."
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Mostafaei defended juveniles facing death penalty in Iran
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Fled the country after being interrogated for hours in Iran's Evin prison
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Angered Iran officials by speaking out in defense of mother sentenced to stoning
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Currently in Oslo after being released under Norwegian government protection
@placeholder's top diplomat says, on principle, his government opposes the death penalty.
Then, his mood momentarily brightened as he pointed across @placeholder's harbor, exclaiming "very beautiful."