Oslo, Norway (CNN)  -- To escape Iran, Mohammad Mostafaei traveled for more then 10 hours on foot and on horseback over the mountains, crossing the border illegally into Turkey. Soon afterwards, he ended up in a detention center for illegal immigrants in Istanbul, where he was incarcerated for nearly a week. After several surreal and sometimes dangerous weeks, Mostafaei's journey appears to finally be over. He now strolls the tidy, rain-soaked streets of Norway's capital, safe from the Iranian security forces who he claims targeted him. But Mostafaei is far from at ease. "I don't like to be a refugee, nor do I like to work abroad," he says. "My love is to remain in Iran and help people who somehow have been oppressed whether by society or by the law or by the judicial system. But regrettably, I became a victim."
@highlight
Mostafaei defended juveniles facing death penalty in Iran
@highlight
Fled the country after being interrogated for hours in Iran's Evin prison
@highlight
Angered Iran officials by speaking out in defense of mother sentenced to stoning
@highlight
Currently in Oslo after being released under Norwegian government protection
Iran
Iranian
Iran
Iran
Iran
Iran
He specializes in defending @placeholder under the age of 18, who have been sentenced to death for crimes ranging from murder to sodomy.
Iran
Iranian
Iran
Iran
Iran
Iran
For his criticism of this policy, the lawyer says authorities prevented him from traveling outside of @placeholder for a seven-month period.
Iran
Iranian
Iran
Iran
Iran
Iran
Activists around the world have staged protests demanding @placeholder authorities commute the sentence.
Norway
Norway
Norwegian
@placeholder's top diplomat says, on principle, his government opposes the death penalty.
Oslo
Oslo
Then, his mood momentarily brightened as he pointed across @placeholder's harbor, exclaiming "very beautiful."