7 January 2004

Urgent action to save the lives of two women

Nazila Mohamad Hasani Zamani and Farideh Asadi are two Iranian women and political activists who have fled Iran in fear of persecution at the hands of the Islamic regime of Iran. Together with three other Iranian asylum seekers they have started a sit-in-strikes in front of the UNHCR offices in Ankara, Turkey since September 22, 2003. The Turkish police detained Nazila and Farideh several times since December 22, 2003. In the light of the support of the IFIR and other women’s rights and human rights organi Nazila and Farideh were released. Nazila and Farideh are currently continuing the sit-in-strike in front of the UNHCR in Ankara-Turkey.

Nazila and Farideh have well-founded fear of persecution based on their political opinion and social activities against the Iranian regime and they are well-known women’s rights and refugees’ rights activists. The lives of Nazila and Farideh are in great danger.

The International Federation of Iranian refugees has initiated a campaign to save the lives of these two women and call up on all the people around the world to join this campaign to save their lives.

Recommended actions:

· Write to the UNHCR and urge them afford Nazila and Farideh protection and grant them recognition as refugees. Please send your letters to the UNHCR Geneva as well as the UNHCR office in Turkey. Please remember to send a copy of your letters to our organization as well. A sample letter is provided for your covenience.

· Sign a petition to support Nazila and Farideh at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/ifirwpnf/petition.html

UNHCR Turkey – Ankara

Address: Sancak Mah., 12. Cadde 212 Sokak   No.3

06550 Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey

E-mail: behr@unhcr.ch

turan@unhcr.ch

corabati@unhcr.ch

khanhu@unhcr.ch

Tel: +90 312-4411696

Fax: +90 312-4412173

Cc: UNHCR Geneva

Address: UNHCR, HQPRO 2, Case Postal 2500

CH-1211 Geneva 2 Depot

Switzerland

Fax: +41-22-739-7353

E-mail: Hqpr00@Unhcr.Ch

Cc: ifirwomen@yahoo.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I / My Organization am / is writing to express my strongest concern over the lives of Nazila Mohamad Hasani Zamani (Case No: M-7217) and Farideh Asadi (Case No: J-1402). Nazila and Farideh are women’s rights activists and political opponents, which will face serious persecution if returned to Iran.

I / My organization urge(s) the UNHCR to re-open their closed case files and grant them refugee recognition immediately. UNHCR is accountable for Nazila and Farideh's life and their children’.

Signed

Name

Organization

Cc: UNHCR Geneva

IFIR-Refugee Women’ Project