Born in 1945 in Masjed Soleyman, Nasseri’s life took a fateful turn in the late 1970s when he claimed to have been expelled from his homeland for protesting against the Shah. He sought asylum in Europe, traveling through several countries before eventually being granted refugee status by Belgium. However, in 1988, while attempting to travel to the United Kingdom, Nasseri lost the papers that proved his refugee status. Arriving in Paris without valid documents, he found himself trapped in the transit area of Charles de Gaulle Airport — unable to enter France and unable to return anywhere else.
For years, Nasseri lived inside the public area of Terminal 1. He slept on a red plastic bench, surrounded by his luggage, newspapers, and notebooks. Airport workers and shopkeepers came to know him well, often bringing him food and supplies. He spent his days reading philosophy, writing in a diary, and watching passengers rush by to destinations he could not reach. He was known affectionately as “Sir Alfred” among staff and travelers — a name he adopted himself.
