First success and important victory for the Federation in the New Year

The prison of Edirne is closing down!

Four Iranian prisoners of Edirne are being accepted as refugee

Following the worldwide campaign of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) regarding the prison of Edirne in Turkey and after extensively broadcasting news concerning the inhuman situations at the prison of Edirne, we became aware that Turkish authorities have proclaimed that the prison is closing down in a near future and all prisoners will be transferred to another prison in the city of Edirne. Turkish authorities have mentioned that the reason for this transfer is the wear and tear and unfavorable conditions of the prison and higher standards are to be expected in the new prison.

As soon as the IFIR became aware of the unbearable situation at Edirne’s prison, it started an extensive campaign by demanding the release of refugees, asking for amelioration of their living conditions and by reporting prisoners’ situation to hundreds of human rights and refugees organizations around the world. The conditions of this prison and of few Iranian refugees were also reported to the UN High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR), Turkish internal affairs and foreign affairs Ministries, and governmental and international organizations, asking for direct intervention of UNHCR for recognition of the rights of these Iranian prisoners to acquire refugee status and to be released from prison immediately. In reaction to this campaign Turkish governmental authorities decided to close down Edirne’s prison and free few Iranian refugees. Meanwhile the four Iranian prisoners for whom we had asked an immediate refugee status were all granted refugee status in a short interval and will be freed soon.

This advance and success is a big step for the movement defending human and refugee rights. But this campaign will to stop here and will continue all efforts until reaching its goal which is acquiring its claims and freeing all imprisoned refugees. IFIR will also continue to follow up on living conditions in the new prison and will reveal any aggression to the rights of refugees and prisoners.

IFIR congratulates all these refugees as well as all organizations and individuals who have helped us in this campaign and emphasizes again that it is only through international solidarity of the front of human rights activists that pain can be effaced from the figure of the human being and better living conditions can be offered.

Hambastegui – International Federation of Iranian Refugees

Jan 5, 2007