For some immigrants escaping persecution from their country's government, the celebration of Thanksgiving takes on a whole new meaning.
Frida Alipour and her husband Jeff own Frida's Cafe and Bakery in Largo.
We caught up with them at their Clearwater home as they prepared for a Thanksgiving party of 30 to 40 people. And while you might know Frida’s pies—she has shared her recipes in our Chef’s Kitchen stories,
you might not know her story.
Frida and Jeff were students in the United States in the 1970’s.They returned to their native Iran during the 1979 revolution. They were hoping to help establish a secular, democratic government. Instead, a conservative Islamic government took over the country.
A place where celebrations like this Thanksgiving party would not be possible. Slowly, personal freedoms were removed from society, especially for women. Students were among those who protested.|
"If they were involved in political activities, any notion of not agreeing with the Islamic government, they would be jailed, prosecuted, executed,” said Frida, “and that's what happened to some of my family members."
Her politically active family was persecuted for their opposing viewpoints. Her sister Fahimeh was jailed and executed.
Her cousin was also executed like Fahimeh, by a firing squad. One of her brothers was in hiding. Frida escaped back to the United States with her husband Jeff and son Robbie. They paid smugglers to sneak them across the closed borders into Pakistan.
And then finally, they made it back to the country they’d left- the United States.
For 30 years they have lived free, built a business, owned a home and had a second child. Her children finished college and pursued the careers of their choice. Many of these things would have been impossible if they hadn’t escaped.
“People come to this country for different things. I came to this country for freedom.”
And every Thanksgiving, it is freedom for which they are deeply thankful. Frida and her family are all citizens now.