When I saw this jacket I knew that I would be wearing it. I didn't know how to get it, on the one hand it was very expensive for me at that point, and on another hand it had some defects. For a couple weeks I was looking in several stores, making attempts to find the same jacket, but I returned to this one. Regardless of the defect I made the decision to buy it and when I was about to pay, the cashier saw the defects and sold it to me almost for free.
I fell in love with this jacket. When I came home I immediately started to do what I intended to when buying it. I started to film a clip. The theme of my film was my long struggle against immigration authorities. The main task was to put homophobia on the agenda, which is taking place in the world, and migration authorities do not always take an objective position towards that fact. At the time of the film release it had been 1200 days since the start of my fight for the right to be in a safe country. The right that my partner and I were deprived of.
This jacket has been with me in all significant situations. In this jacket I went to the Stockholm Pride parade, in the same jacket I went to the Migration Board and the Migration Court. It was in this jacket immigration authorities took me into custody. On January 21, 2016 when the immigration authorities tried to deport me, I was standing in this jacket at the airport with handcuffs on my wrists. In this jacket I left prison, after the Swedish society had risen to my defense. For me this jacket has become a symbol of resistance, as well as a symbol of faith in a brighter future.
And later being in this jacket I spoke at a large demonstration, telling what I had to go through. The story ended happily and this jacket will always be a reminder that you never should give up. And you always find strength to go on fighting even when all seems lost.