LIBYAN exile Mohamed Maklouf has returned his adopted home Brentford after being reunited with friends and family for the first time in 35 years.
The 50-year-old film-maker was booted out of his homeland more than three decades ago after criticising the dictatorship of Libya's ruler Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
But thanks to the popular uprising which has seen Gaddafi lose control of parts of the country, Mr Maklouf was finally able to make the journey to Benghazi to see his relatives.
His journey to Libya was shown on ITV1's Tonight show last Tuesday and captured the touching moments he was reunited with his family and friends.
Mohamed said: "When I entered Benghazi I just couldn't stop smiling. It was the greatest feeling in the world. I cannot describe it. It was like I was born again. It was like I had disappeared for 36 years and now I am back.
"My mother just said, 'No way', she couldn't believe it. She made me lots of food, every day, and the director and the camera man.
"I didn't have time to see everyone. I think I saw about three percent of my friends and family. They kept running up to me in the street.
"I was walking along the street and this man stopped me and said 'you are Mohamed Maklouf aren't you?' and then he started hugging me and crying and he said "I am your friend from your childhood", and the pictures all started to come together and I remembered his face. It was very emotional."
Mohamed has now become a celebrity in his hometown after his TV appearances campaigning for a change in the way the country is governed.
He said: "I was on Arab TV talking about the revolution in Libya, so when I was walking down the street, people recognised me and when I went to the shops they wouldn't let me pay for things it was amazing. People wouldn't let us pay for anything over the ten days we stayed."
Mohamed is desperate to change the 'reserved' opinion he believes some English people have of Libyan people.
He said: "Our culture is about generosity and hospitality, love, caring and friendship. People are just trying to defend their country and their rights. Remember we had to fight the Italians for 37 years non-stop, it is long time. Defending your homeland and refusing dictatorship and oppression is a culture inside you."
