It has been a difficult journey for me.

In 2013, I was arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned in my home country for posting political satire on Facebook that was deemed insulting to the state religion of Islam.

My post went viral within hours -- hundreds of police reports were made against me, I received dozens of death threats from angry Muslims, my address was doxxed/leaked, I was accosted and assaulted in public, and I had to go into hiding because I feared for my life.

Within days, the police arrested me, interrogated me, harassed my family as well, ransacked my apartment, and they charged me with multiple counts of insulting religion, sedition, and misuse of the internet.

I was facing 5-10 years in federal prison in my mid-20s, and I'd likely only be released in my 30s, facing a bleak future with no career prospects, the stigma of being an ex-convict, and a broken-down spirit.

I had to make a choice, and I had to make it fast.

I decided to escape to the US and leave behind everything and everyone that I've ever known... forever.

It was the toughest and scariest decision that I had to make in my life.

I first slipped out to Singapore. Then to the UK. Then to Mexico.

From Mexico, I literally walked up to the CBP officer at the US-Mexico border and said:

"Sir, I don't have a passport or a visa. I'm here to beg for asylum because I'm being persecuted in my home country for my political views."

And then I waited.

Moment of truth.

He stared at me for 5 seconds, dumbfounded, and then he radioed it in.

Within a minute, 2 more CBP officers showed up.

They took my belongings and put me in handcuffs.

The other people in line were so perplexed and watched in bewilderment as I was taken away in handcuffs, they must have wondered what the hell I did. 😂

Anyway, CBP processed me and handed me over to ICE.

I spent many months in immigration detention, not knowing my eventual fate.

I was sleepless for months.

Eventually I was allowed to plead my case for asylum before a judge.

Judge Lee O'Connor. I remember his name very clearly.

Because everything hinged on his approval of my asylum, otherwise I get deported back to face added charges and a lengthier prison sentence.

An asylum hearing isn't just me and the judge.

DHS has an attorney and are legally obliged to oppose my asylum case.

The DHS attorney did ample research on my case and did an impressive job painting me as an agent provocateur who decided to just recklessly poke the bear of Islam, despite knowing that it was the state religion.

She made such a compelling case that I thought I was toast for sure.

The judge, however, disagreed.

He said, "Well if it's something that's protected or ought to be protected, then the petitioner (me) should have been allowed to say whatever he wants."

His final words brought tears to my eye:

"And with that, I approve your case for asylum. Welcome to America."

I heaved a massive sigh of relief.

I hugged my lawyer tightly, I thanked him profusely, and after that, I was pacing up and down the hall in utter disbelief (and jubilation) for 20 minutes -- I simply couldn't contain my excitement.

After that, I got my Green Card and eventually my citizenship. 😎

Looking back, everything that happened in the last 10 years just felt so surreal.

Very few people understand how alone it feels when you have the whole world against you.

Fleeing from Islamic tyranny and the Muslim mob. The whole country rejoicing witnessing your downfall. Your closest friends and family members deserting you, because they didn't want any trouble with the regime.

Yet America gave me a second chance when no one else would even touch a criminal fugitive like me.

Thank you, America, for giving me a new lease on life.

I can never set foot in my native soil ever again, and I'm fine with that.

America is now home.

And from the bottom of my heart, I can truly say, God bless America. ❤️