One moment he was behind razor wire; the next he was standing on the side of the road. Long-term Christian detainee Arta Zaheedi's three years of detention at Villawood Detention Centre came to an abrupt end on Tuesday afternoon.
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs officials (DIMIA) gave Mr Zaheedi just two hours notice that he would be released into the community on a temporary protection visa.
The victim of torture and political persecution in Iran became a Christian after coming into contact with a ministry operated out of St Paul's Anglican Church, Carlingford.
Steven Morris and seven other friends were able to cancel plans and rush down to the centre to be on hand when their mate walked through the gates.
"He came out smiling like a Cheshire cat," Mr Morris says. "There was a lot of back-slapping and quite a few tears."
"After lots of rejoicing and farewells from some of the nicer guards, we went over to Roseville and drank a few glasses of champagne."
Still basking in his first few hours of freedom, Arta told friends he only has two plans " church and study.
“Arta is really looking forward to going to Iranian church," Mr Morris says.
"Though he's been a Christian for more than two years now he's never been to a ‘normal’ church service."
Mr Zaheedi was prevented from studying in Iran because of his parent's political associations, but now that door is opening wide.
I told him, "I think you should just put your heels up and have a party'," says Mr Morris. "But he said, "No - I want to study as soon as I can.'"
Friends say Mr Zaheedi's dream is to go to university to study engineering.
But other detainees' dreams are still on hold.
DIMIA is continuing to evaluate four-year detainee Amir Mesrinejad's application for permanent residency.
Mr Mesrinejad also became a Christian at Villawood and has been offered a ministry position at St Paul's.
Detainee advocate Tracey Gordon confirms he submitted his application weeks before Mr Zaheedi but is still awaiting the completion of a key security check.
"Once all of the checks are completed it goes back before the minister and she makes the final decision," she says.
Immigration law specialist, Michael Kah, is handling Mr Mesrinejad's case on behalf of the Sydney diocese.
He believes the ball is now firmly in DIMIA's court.
"The situation is that everything the department has asked for has been provided. So now the government really has to make a decision," Mr Kah says.
Supporters are now cautiously optimistic.
"It could go either way but the fact that Minister Vanstone has asked for the reports and intervened shows there's reason for hope," Ms. Gordon says.
Meantime Villawood is taking on the appearance of a ghost town surrounded by cyclone fencing.
"Amir's been a bit of a father figure and a real strong leader for many people at Villawood. His friends, one by one, have been released and there's only a small number of them there now," Mr Morris says.
"He is wishing Arta the best, but ringing him the next night he told me, ‘It doesn’t bother me how long I have to wait - a few weeks, a few months, the rest of my life…'"
Arta Zaheedi will celebrate his first birthday outside of detention in three years next Wednesday, but Mr Morris hopes he will receive something more meaningful than cake.
"It would be a wonderful birthday present for him if Amir came out on the same day."
