INVITATION FOR DEBATE
Swedish parliamentarian parties and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are invited to take part in a debate concerning Iranian refugee problems.

We already know that in year 2006 more than 1000 Iranian refugees have received negative response from the Swedish immigration office and have been under tremendous amount of pressure from this office to cooperate and return to Iran.
It is worth mentioning that until the recent emergence of the temporary refugee law, the majority of these people have been living incognito for months and even years. Unfortunately, even after being scrutinized by the new law their cases have been refused and as a result coverage of their food, accommodation and even medical expenses has been discontinued. Their files have been sent to the police and they have even lost their work permit.
It is important to know that to be able to afford their expenses and to survive these refugees had no other way but to work in the black market. Again due to the new regulations for shops, all of these people have become unemployed. Despite all these pressures none of them is cooperating with the immigration office to return to Iran: They do not want to go back.
Lack of any kind of liberty and open political environment, arrests and imprisonments, tortures and all sorts of physical punishments, an atmosphere of terror and repression, medieval laws and regulations in dealing with critics and dissidents, all are the reasons why young adults and women flee Iran.
This is why, the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) in continuation to its protest against anti-refugee policies of the Swedish government, has decided to organize a sit-in-strike from Feb 11 to 18th, at the Gustav Adolph Guttenberg so that the Swedish society and the whole world hear the voice of protest of the Iranian refugees . A large tent will be established in the square and everyday from 17:00 to 20:00 there will be a discussion between the representatives of the Swedish parties and the refugees. Meantime the sit-in-strike will continue around the clock for seven days.
Refugees have left Iran because of the difficult and inhuman conditions that currently exist in Iran; therefore it is their expectation that all Swedish organizations and political parties, governmental or non-governmental, will support them.

The Swedish branch of IFIR is requesting the followings:
1- No refugee should be sent back to Iran.
2- The Swedish government should alleviate its pressures over these refugees and instead of following policies of pressure, try to find a human solution for this problem.
3- Covering living and medical expenses, before and after a case is refused could be a step toward such human solution.
4- Many of the immigration trials have been held in the absence of the refugees which makes us think that the current procedures are not much different from the practices of the immigration office in previous years. We are asking that all cases be audited in a uniform fashion; that the immigration trial is held with the presence of the refugees and their lawyers.

The International Federation of Iranian Refugees / Sweden Branch is inviting all parliamentary parties and NGOs to each introduce one representative, to participate in these discussions.

 

International Federation of Iranian Refugees / Sweden Branch