Hamed Amiri was just 10 years old when a warrant was put out for his mother's execution and the family had to flee from their home in Afghanistan. Now, the extraordinary story of the family's escape across over seven countries to Wales and his brother's life-saving heart surgery will be shown at the prestigious National Theatre in London.
Hamed was living with his parents and two brothers, Hussein and Hessam, in 2000 when his mother, Fariba, delivered a stirring speech about women's rights in Afghanistan. Days later, a warrant was issued for her execution and the family knew that they would have to leave.
Hamed turned the story of his family's arduous journey to Wales into a book, The Boy With Two Hearts, which was adapted into a sell-out play at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff last year. In order to reach their new home in Cardiff, Hamed, his parents, and two brothers had to hide in the hidden compartment of a car for days until they reached Moscow. After about six months, the family received a call telling them it was time to move to their next location.
