HAMBASTEGI 78-79

In the post-Cold War era, Western governments have lost the ideological incentive to promote asylum. The further globalization of capital has decreased their need for cheap labor at home. Furthermore, the role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which was created as a

result of the Cold War, has been increasingly relegated to migration control assistance for governments.

As a result, Iranian refugees fleeing the tyrannical Islamic Republic of Iran are facing restrictive measures that blatantly violate refugee rights. Western governments state that most of these refugees "do not fall within the refugee definition." They overtly proclaim that general conditions in Iran are reasonable for Third World standards, though intolerable for Westerners. Their institutionalized racism blames refugees for social problems which actually result from a system that puts profits first and human needs last. They justify their actions by unjustly blaming citizens for their "unwillingness to accept newcomers." Despite the fact that the situation in Iran has worsened, they say that conditions in Iran no longer requires a moratorium on deportations. When expedient, however, they used a moratorium and high approval rates to exert pressure on the regime. Such policies are created for specific political and economic self-interests. False portrayals of a tolerable Iran and a "moderate," smiling mullah opens the way for the only thing that's really free to move in this world - capital. In the meantime, refugees, those "annoying" reminders of the dark realities of an Islamic Iran, are increasingly rejected and forcibly returned to their persecutors.

Governments' categorization of migrants must be renounced to defend the undeniable rights of any human being who says "no" to an abominable regime. Applying for asylum is a political act against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Anyone who proclaims that s/he is unwilling to return to Iran must be granted

refuge. There must be a moratorium on deportations. Anything less is inhuman and unacceptable.

SUPPORT CAMPAIGN PROTESTING CANADIAN GOVERNMENT'S DEPORTATION OF THOUSANDS

Soraya Shahabi, Director, IFIR Secretariat

May 21, 1998

According to a press release issued by the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) - Canada Branch, the Canadian government has officially announced its plan to deport 17,000 people, including hundreds of Iranian asylum seekers. Tens are being deported on a weekly basis.

The Canadian government's anti-refugee policies, targeting low-income families, has been opposed by several progressive organizations throughout the past year. With the IFIR-Canada Branch's initiative, ongoing protests have culminated in an expansive and national "Campaign Against the Federal Government Attacks on Immigrants and Refugees," comprising tens of workers', women's, humanitarian and socialist organizations, including Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), a renowned labor organization. Other organizations supportive of the Campaign include: Canadian Autoworkers Union Local 199 Human Rights Committee; Ontario Public Service Employees Union Human Rights Committee; Canadian Federation of Students; Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903; National Action Committee on the Status of Women; Comite Sans Emploi; Socialist Action; Black Action Defence Committee; Young Koreans United; Native African Inmates and Families Association; Food Not Bombs; Mayworks; Ontario Public Interest Research Group; Friends of Sun Ha Yang and Susan Kim; University of Toronto Women's Centre; Worker-Communist Party of Iran and Iraq, Canada Branch; New Socialist Group; CKLN Radio Station and CHRY Radio Station.

Among other actions, this Campaign organized a March 3, 1998 demonstration in Toronto and a March 27 action in Vancouver, has established Campaign branches in London, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver, and has gained widespread support. The Campaign is organizing a May 29 demonstration in seven cities across Canada.

This national protest needs the support of organizations and individuals outside Canada. International support will undoubtedly have an impact on the Campaign's success. IFIR's members, activists and branches world wide will relentlessly strive to gain this international solidarity.

The Canadian government cannot be permitted to toy with the lives of thousands of human beings and to promote the further deterioration of internationally-recognized refugee standards world-wide. Beginning on May 29, 1998, IFIR urges organizations and individuals to support this important struggle by sending protest faxes and letters to Canadian embassies in their countries of residence, demanding:

	an end to deportations;
	permanent residency for asylum seekers; and
	the cancellation of the anti-refugee Immigration Legislative Review report, "Not Just Numbers: A Canadian Framework for Future Immigration."

As in the past, international solidarity can and will prevent the Canadian government from implementing its inhuman policies.

REFUGEE RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS

Hassan Varash, Director, IFIR-Canada Branch

May 29, 1998

Refugee rights are under vicious attack. Asylum seekers are being deported to their persecutors. In order to escape detention and deportation by the Canadian authorities, they are forced underground, without the right to social assistance, work, education, and health care. They must work under the minimum wage in order to live under the poverty line. This situation must end, and must end immediately.

"Not Just Numbers: A Canadian Framework for Future Immigration" (also known as New Proposals) is a document that, if passed into a law, will fundamentally undermine refugee rights. It discriminates against people's gender, race, country of origin, income, health, and above all, class. It is a full-fledged offensive against the working class and humanity. The "New Proposal" is meant to fulfill the exigencies of globalization: to accommodate the free movement of capital and further constrain the movement of people from one place to another. Its essence is to create further internationalism for capital, and nationalism and localism for the working class. This must be stopped, and stopped immediately.

The Canadian government's offensive is radical, militant, and in essence global. The struggle against it should possess the same characteristics. We should unite and fight back. Refugees and immigrants are not marginal groups that one should feel pity for. They are not minorities. They are human beings and part of the working class. Their rights are human rights. An attack on their rights must be conceived as an offensive against humanity and the working class. Accordingly, we call on all trade unions, women's and progressive organizations, and individuals to join us in our fight. Our strength lies in our unity and solidarity.

ZOLEYKHA KADKHODA HAS BEEN RELEASED BUT THE BARBARITY OF STONING CONTINUES

Ramesh Ahmadi, International Campaign in Defense of Women's Rights in Iran,

US Committee

May 20, 1998

On May 15, 1998, Amnesty International (AI) issued an urgent action follow-up on the case of Zoleykha Kadkhoda. In August of last year, Kadkhoda was accused of engaging in sexual relations outside of marriage and sentenced to death by stoning in the town of Bukan. Local residents opposed to the stoning managed to stop it before she was killed. Though Kadkhoda was wounded, authorities had not lifted her death sentence. AI reports that authorities claim she was released on November 26, 1997.

The International Campaign in Defense of Women's Rights in Iran (ICDWRI), the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR), and the Committee for Humanitarian Assistance to Iranian Refugees (CHAIR) congratulate all who worked on behalf of Kadkhoda to condemn stoning in Iran. The members of her community who took direct action in demonstrating their protest of an inhuman act, inspired a worldwide movement against stoning. Our important role in that movement included gathering over a thousand signatures and resolutions from individuals and organizations, issuing press releases and action appeals, holding demonstrations, conducting media outreach, and gaining the support of international human rights organizations, such as the World Organization Against Torture.

Our campaign highlighted the case of Kadkhoda because of the local opposition which succeeded in preventing her death, but also because stoning is a particularly inhuman example of the Islamic regime's violence and suppression. Though we have focused on condemnation of stoning, we unequivocally oppose all forms of the death penalty in Iran and everywhere. Likewise, we have emphasized the stoning of women, though the regime kills both men and women in this manner. Because of the severe discrimination faced by women in the legal, economic and social spheres, women have much greater difficulty than men in averting the Islamic regime's barbaric laws such as stoning. The regime's systematic suppression of women makes them particularly vulnerable to human rights abuses.

Though Kadkhoda was saved, activism against the terror of the Islamic regime will continue. Since our campaign began with the stoning of Kadkhoda in August 1997, we have received reports of at least twelve additional people who have been stoned to death. And these are just the reports that have reached us. More recently, on May 2, Reuters reported that Iranian journalist Morteza Firoozi was sentenced to death by stoning on charges of allegedly engaging in voluntary sexual relations and "spying." Both charges are politically motivated. We call on all individuals and groups to continue their protests and denunciations of the regime and stoning.

DEFEND THE RIGHT TO CITIZENSHIP FOR ROSHANAK RAVANBAKHSH IN NORWAY

IFIR - Norwegian Branch

May 4, 1998

Although Roshanak Ravanbakhsh, an asylum seeker in Norway, faced gender-based persecution in Iran, she is threatened with deportation to the Islamic Republic of Iran. In order to arrest and deport her, the Norwegian police raided Ravanbakhsh's home in Melbu (northern Norway) at 5:00 a.m. on April 23,1998. To escape arrest, Ravanbakhsh threw herself out of her third floor apartment window and was severely wounded. Unconscious, she was taken to the hospital where she must remain for two months. IFIR denounces the Norwegian government's rejection of Ravanbakhsh's asylum application and urges groups and individuals to specifically defend her right to citizenship in Norway and the right of all woman fleeing gender-apartheid in Iran to protection.

SUPPORT THE SHELTER AID CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN IN IRAQI KURDISTAN

The International Campaign in Defense of Women's Rights in Iran, Sweden

May 1998

The "Independent Women's Organization" (IWO) in Kurdistan is planning to build a shelter for women who are the victims of violence and other criminal acts. The IWO was formed on March 8, 1992 in protest to the massive wave of terror waged against women in Iraqi Kurdistan in March 1991. The International Campaign in Defense of Women's Rights in Iran (ICDWRI) urges groups and individuals to support their activities and struggle to fight terror, discrimination and suppression. Support the building of a shelter for women who fear being killed or burned by their male relatives; shot at by the police; publicly executed; stoned to death; disabled and disfigured; kidnapped and secretly murdered. For more information, contact the ICDWRI.

To subscribe to Hambastegi, the monthly publication of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR), please send a $15 check made payable to CHAIR to: GPO, P. O. Box 7051, New York, NY 10116. Hambastegi is primarily in Persian. The Committee for Humanitarian Assistance to Iranian Refugees (CHAIR) is a member of IFIR. For more information, contact IFIR/CHAIR at chairngo@aol.com.