An Iranian refugee, Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who’s well known for being the inspiration behind Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Terminal’ left us for his heavenly abode, know his age
Mehran, who lived in the departure lounge of the Charles de Gaulle Airport from Aug 26, 1988 to July 2006, Passed away at the age of 76.
Who Is Mehran Karimi Nasseri Iranian Refugee Who Inspired The Terminal, His Age, Story, Biography And Family
Mehran Karimi Nasseri, the Iranian political refugee who lived more than 18 years at Charles de Gaulle Airport of Paris and whose life inspired Steven Spielberg's film "The Terminal", has died there of natural causes on Saturday, November 12, an airport official told AFP. pic.twitter.com/6D52tzFxxT
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) November 12, 2022
His autobiography was published in a book titled The Terminal Man in 2004, which was later adapted into Steven Spielberg’s film titled The Terminal.
Who was Mehran Karimi Nasseri?
Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who’s better known as Sir Alfred Mehran, was born in an Oil company in Masjed Soleiman, Imperial State of Iran in 1945.
Mehran’s father, Abdelkarim was a doctor in the Company while his mother, who was originally from Scotland, was a nurse in the same place.
In 1973, Nasseri moved to the United Kingdom to study a 3-year degree in Yugoslav studies from the University of Bradford.
According to Nasseri’s claims, after successfully completing his studies, when he returned back to Iran, he was exiled from the nation in 1977 as he took part in protests against Mohammad Reza Shah.
Shah was the King of the Imperial State of Iran. After being exiled from his own country, Nasseri was granted refugee status by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Belgium.
As his mother was of British origin, so in 1986, he decided to settle in the UK. He boarded a plane from France, however, had to return back as his official documents were allegedly stolen.
Initially, he was arrested by French officials but later he was released as his entries to the airport found to be legal.
After the incident he started staying at Terminal 1 of Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, because he didn’t have any country to return to.
He stayed at the terminal until 2006, after which he was hospitalized. Following a year, he left the hospital and lodged in the French Red Cross, which is a hotel close to the airport.
In March 2007, he was transferred to an Emmaus charity reception-centre. As of 2008, he was living in a Paris shelter.
However, in the wake of his death report, Associated Press noted that the Iranian refugee had returned back to the airport in 2022.