Urgent Action 22 October 2003

SUPPORT SIT-IN OF IRANIAN REFUGEES IN BELGIUM

More than 250 Iranian asylum seekers men, women, and children have begun a sit-in at the University of Brussels (ULB) in Belgium to protest that Belgium government’s indifference towards Iranian asylum seekers. They are youth, women and men that fled from the brutal Islamic Republic of Iran and to seek protection in Belgium. But the Belgian government disregard for Iranian asylum seekers lives and safeties. , and imposed them the nightmare of deportation to Iran. The Belgian government knows the nightmare that awaits them very well. After all, it has financed and supported the repression to maintain a "stable" regime in order to ensure that business goes on as usual. This plan to refused thousands Iranian asylum claims is one more step forward in their wheeling and dealings to increase profits. With this, the Belgian government not only endangers the lives of human beings worthy of dignity, it also legitimizes a criminal regime. If the asylum request of Iranian asylum seekers is refused, it will be a huge political and human setback for modern society. If the Belgian government goes forward with its plan, opponents of dictatorship and repression will not be safe anywhere in the world. We must fight back. We must support and strengthen the struggle of asylum seekers in Belgium. Support this important struggle by organizing solidarities actions on Iranian sit-in strikers and by sending protest faxes and letters to Belgian government officials and embassies in your countries of residence. Your solidarity will once again expose the indefensible and save lives. Success in this endeavour will be a success for all humanity. The Belgian government must be reminded that it cannot play with the lives of human beings. Send your letters of protest to the Belgian authorities and demand that the Belgian government must:

1- Recognized Islamic republic of Iran as an unsafe country

2- Review rejected case files,

3- Recognize the undeniable right to protection for Iranian asylum seekers.

International Federation of Iranian refugees (IFIR)