Majid went from kebab delivery boy to running clandestine missions rescuing women and children facing violence in Iraq. He teamed up with Ahlam, a widow and survivor of domestic abuse. Together they built an underground network, smuggling some of Iraq's most vulnerable people – most recently members of the LGBTQ community – to safety. 

Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Maryam Maruf

Voiceover performances by Youssef Taha and Amira Ghazalla

Picture: LGBT protest in Turkey
Credit: Getty Images

Majid went from kebab delivery boy to running clandestine missions rescuing women and children facing violence in Iraq. He teamed up with Ahlam, a widow and survivor of domestic abuse. Together they built an underground network, smuggling some of Iraq's most vulnerable people – most recently members of the LGBTQ community – to safety. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Voiceover performances by Youssef Taha and Amira Ghazalla Picture: LGBT protest in Turkey Credit: Getty Images

The underground network saving gay Iraqis

<p>Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. 
 
Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. 
 
Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. </p><p>Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years.
 
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Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years. Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

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