The surf culture of Lennox Head on the New South Wales north coast is a far cry from their original home of Iran. But David and Parvin Mansouri are now a part of the furniture in the coastal community.

The couple bring a taste of the Middle East to the surf town, selling a range of traditional Persian foods made in-store. (ABC : Margaret Burin )

Originally from Iran, David and Parvin Mansouri have been running a general store in Lennox Head's main street for the past 15 years. (ABC : Margaret Burin )

Shortly after the Iranian Revolution, David and Parvin Mansouri fled Iran.

It is still difficult for him to talk about, but shortly after, David's father was murdered.

After refusing to convert to Islam, he was arrested, tortured and executed by firing squad.

As believers in the Baha'i faith, their minority group was experiencing widespread persecution.

"I lost my job because of my belief," David said.

"You had the option to resign from what you believe, or accept Islam, or otherwise you lose your job."

There was no high school for females in the small town where Parvin grew up.

Her mother had sent her to India to receive a high school and university education, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science.

"I went back to Iran, I got a job, but the revolution happened," she said.

"My workplace in the hospital, every day there was a new rule for the woman; now we have to wear long sleeves, we have to cover up our hair."

The 1979 Iranian Revolution resulted in the world's first Islamic state, ruled by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini.

Parvin says as a woman, particularly from a different religion, it became impossible to see a future there.

"[My family is] from the Baha'i faith, which is talking about the equality of men and women; respecting women was very important," she said.

"I came to know there was no place for me, no respect for women."

In 1980 the couple made the incredibly difficult decision to leave their country and never return.

After living in South America for several years, they applied for Australian immigration and were settled in Sydney.

But it was the yearning for a slower-paced life which later led them to the New South Wales north coast.

A chance encounter brought them to Lennox Head, a seaside village with one of Australia's best point-breaks.

They stumbled upon a shop for sale which brought back childhood memories of Parvin's family business.

"I said, this is the shop where I feel really good," she said.

For the past 15 years they have been running a general store located in the town's main street with the help of their sons Pedro and Fabian.

An aroma of herbs and spices greets customers at the door.

A glass counter is packed with home-made Middle Eastern food that the family enjoy sharing with their community.

"This is a traditional food called Aush," Parvin explains from the kitchen behind the store-front.

"In this is all different herbs including coriander and parsley, spaghetti, garlic, onion and yoghurt - it is cleansing."

Today, the danger in returning to Iran remains too high.

And with growing conflict in the Middle East, David and Parvin do not envisage being able to visit their family any time in the near future.

Freedom and liberty are at the heart of their happy lives.

"The best joy I can get is seeing, even in the rain, the children taking their boards and running for the surf," Parvin said.