IFIR 11^th Conference Summary of Proceedings

November 4 -5, 2006

Delegates, members and guests from European countries participated in the International Federation of Iranian Refugees' 11^th International Conference in Köln, Germany during 4 to 5 November 2006. [Since the majority of IFIR branch representatives are refugees and asylum seekers, representatives from Northern Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Greece, Pakistan, and several other countries were unable to attend.]  Invited speakers included Timoor Sharenberg, from the refugee council of Hesen, Hamid Taqvaee, the leader of the Worker-communist Party of Iran.

The IFIR’s platform, activities and future political and action plan were the subjects of discussion among the representatives.

Pictures of last year’s rallies and meetings that were organized by the IFIR were displayed. Also, the pictures of many happy faces of refugees who were able to obtain asylum through the help of IFIR decorated the walls of the auditorium. At the beginning of the conference a short film on IFIR’s activities produced by Siamak Zare was viewed.

The first day of the conference opened with a roundtable panel discussion in German and English on 'Asylum situation in the world and our task and duties'.  Mina Ahadi, the IFIR Executive Director, in her speech, elaborated on the status of asylum and the increasing assault on asylum rights. She pointed out the visionary, politically pioneering content and mission of the IFIR’s work. Woria Ahmadi, (Director of IFIR in Germany) and Timoor Sharenberg, from the refugee council of Hesen spoke. In their detailed speeches both spoke about the horrendous situation of asylum seekers in Germany and Germany’s anti-refugees rules and regulation. Woria Ahmadi and Timoor Sharenberf described their widespread struggle with legislature on such topics.

During this portion, speakers looked into the New world order, the effect of the IFIR’s activities on the lives of refugees, the formation of huge coalitions and the IFIR’s successful and shining defense of human and asylum rights. 

Farshad Hoseini gave his speech in English and talked about “a global and hidden war against asylum”. He explained the situation of asylum in the current world and a new growing of Asylum movement in the world. Farshad talked about the importance and the necessity of global united and coalition in defense asylum rights in global framework and with all refugee and human rights organizations. . He told that all refugee and human rights organizations to take steps to work together in fighting for better and human future for refugees and asylum seekers. He pointed out that is important our task and duties to lead and managed a forming such a strong and world front in defense asylum. Then he reported the worldwide activities of IFIR on struggle for refugee and asylum rights.

The second day of the conference (in Persian) began with a moment of silence for all those killed attempting to reach safety and for those who lost their lives struggling against political Islam and for Mansoor Hekmet, the founder of the IFIR.  The formal business of the conference began with the adoption of the conference's rules and procedures. Several solidarity messages were read as well as message from Fateh Bahrami, a member of the Central Committee of the Worker Communist Party of Iran, messages from the sit-ins of TIPF Camp, and from Iran, Turkey, Finland, and Azerbaijan. 

Mina Ahadi In her opening speech, elaborated on the latest developments regarding asylum and refugee rights and the Islamic Republic of Iran and political Islam in the region and the world and laid down the future direction and priorities of the IFIR. Mina Ahadi mentioned that the IFIR has taken huge steps with recent activities. Those steps include participating in the coalition of different humanitarian organizations in Sweden and Germany. Mina Ahadi discussed the political and monetary challenges that the IFIR is facing. These obstacles will not prevent us from achieving our goals. With all the problems and the challenges that IFIR is facing nothing can discourage us. Nothing will prevent us from achieving our goals. We are visionary and we are moving in the right direction. The challenges and the obstacles will not impact the importance of our role in the battle in defending the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. The people who take part in sit-ins on the border of Jordan, Iraq or some far off camp see the IFIR as their representative. As a result of its activities, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has had no other choice but to accept us in this regard. 

At the same time that the conference was held it was broadcast directly through internet via Paltalk. Some of the human rights activist, the women rights organizations, and the supporters of the IFIR from Iran and other countries presented their messages via Internet during the conference.

Farshad Hoseini, the IFIR’s Deputy Executive Director presented the IFIR’s report to the conference on IFIR activities in the period of 10^th and 11^th conference and a discussion around the report ensued with delegates and participants entering into a discussion over the report.

Farshad stated that the IFIR had many tasks, activities and achievements in the recent term. Farshad pointed to the situation and introduced an Iranian mother and her two children that have been living in the Moscow airport for a few months now. Farshad said that since the IFIR has openly talked about this case and exposed the situation, wide spread support has been received. At the same time Farshad mentioned that some of the organizations are taking advantage of the refugees’ situation. He emphasized the role of the IFIR in purely working for the refugees’ rights. For this reason the IFIR is very popular and trusted among the public. After Farshad the representatives from different countries spoke and each gave the report of their unit’s actions during the recent term.

Abdullah Asadi (Director of IFIR in Germany), spoke about the great result that they achieved and the group effort in Sweden. He declared that the federation is a very creditable, popular, and active organization that has affected many lives so far.

Woria Ahmady (Director of IFIR in Germany) spoke regarding their unit activities and the positive aspects of their action in recent terms in the coalition with other organizations. He spoke of the workers syndicate, its relationship with IFIR, and the humanitarian rights organizations in the process of fighting the German government regarding the rules and regulations of immigration. He pointed to the opportunities for improvement in the area of writing reports in Farsi.

Sirvan Ghaderi, (Director of IFIR in UK) the federation representative from England, in his motivational speech spoke about the effect of the federation on his own life. He then presented his report about the “Life without Fear” campaign and the effect of it in England. He announced that the young generation and the young cadre in the IFIR are ready to assume more responsibility. He stated the federation should pay attention to this group and it’s potential. 

Naser Ahmady, (Director of IFIR in Norway) the Federation representative of Norway, gave the report of activities in Norway. He pointed to the opportunities available in Norway and the needs of attention to this region. He asked the IFIR to help the unit to expand their activities and actions. The written reports of Finland and Baku were then presented.

At the end of the reports the attendees spoke regarding the positive aspects of the IFIR and the opportunities for improvement. They all agreed that the IFIR is taking steps in the right direction.

Hamid Taqvaee, the leader of the Worker-communist Party of Iran was the guest speaker. He pointed to the IFIR’s activities in regards to the refugees in the TIP camp in Iraq. He stated that the success of the Iraq campaign was one of the IFIR’s symbols to the world. Two hundred refugees were separated from Mujahadin and treated as prisoners of war in the hands of the American forces. On the other hand, the Iranian Islamic regime was trying to pull them back into Iran and misuse them for their own political gain. Meanwhile, the Mujahadin organization was trying to get rid of the ones that broke away from Mujahadin.

One of the ex- members of Mujahadin who was in TIPF, escaped the camp and could arrived in Turkey. He was not willing to approach any of the other three groups, American, the Iranian Islamic Regime, or Mujahadin. We were the only trustworthy organization that he could approach for help. Later those 200 refugees in TIPF approached the IFIR because they knew that IFIR is the only organization that doesn’t deal with those three forces. Those 200 in TIPF are the symbol of the modern world’s humanity. Humankind today is enslaved to these forces of the western militarily state and Political Islam. The Mujahadin is the most unprincipled group which fluctuates among these two terrorist poles and is in coalition with one or the other. We are in this world hindering all of these reactionary forces and defending humanitarian rights, this is reason why we became the refugees’ shelter. We are the only hope they have and search for.

Hamid Taqvaee then discussed the analysis of the tenth conference, the examination of the new world order, and the asylum problems in the world. These topics prove that the IFIR, now more then ever, must contemplate today’s problems. He stated that IFIR have to challenge the current world more than before. Challenges with cultural relativism, making ghettos and dividing people based on where the come from, and integration polices should be subject of IFIR global or local’s conference.

At the end of the first day of the conference there was a focus group discussion with the IFIR’s leaders and the organization. At the focus group discussion different aspects of the organization’s activities were discussed and the group brainstormed ideas.

On the second day of the conference the policy of our organizing and IFIR’s work style and political aspect and the organization was the hot point of discussions. There were many great ideas and brainstorming regarding the IFIR’s situation. The IFIR must become proactive in membership and must turn into an activist’s organization.            

At the closing first day of the conference on Saturday, Farshad Hosini, the candidate for the post of IFIR’s Executive Director, present his platform. Then Abdullah Asadi presented his platform in regard of the opportunities for the IFIR’s improvement. His platform was in continuation of Farshad’s platform.

Finally, elections for the post of IFIR's Executive Director were held.  Farshad Hoseini was elected by a significant majority as a new Executive Director of IFIR. 

In the second day of the conference the rules and regulations were discussed. The result of the discussions will be presented later. It was then that the future political aspects of the Federation were discussed. The IFIR’s recruitment, membership and the barriers were discussed.

Raebeh Ashta, Shahnaze Moretab, Mahine Darvish Rohani, Siamach Zaregh, Darioosh Baigi, and Mohsen Ghasemkhani were the organizers of the conference. The conference was closed after thanking all those individuals for their hard work and closing speeches given by Mina Ahadiand Farshad Hosseini.  

Farshad Hoseini ended the successful and historical IFIR 11^th conference with a closing speech.

Hambastegi- International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR)

November 7, 2006