International Federation of Iranian Refugees- Refugee Women’s Project

January 1, 2004

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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 on December 22, 2003 and have threatened them with deportation back to Iran. Nazila was released and Farideh is still detained. Nazila is currently continuing the sit-in-strike in front of the UNHCR in Ankara-Turkey. Based on past experiences the Iranian authorities deals severely with political activists who have attempted to escape. Countless number of refugees have perished on their forced deportation to Iran.

Nazila and Farideh have well-founded fear of persecution based on their political opinion and social activities against the Iranian regime and they are 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 the Turkish government demanding immediate release of Farideh and urge them afford Nazila and Farideh protection and grant them recognition as refugees. Please send your letters to the Turkish Government Foreign Ministry as well as the UNHCR office in Turkey. Please remember to copy your letters to our organization as well. A sample letter is provided for your covenience.

Turkish Government, foreign ministry

E-mail: bilgişlem@içişileri.gov.tr,

Cankaya@tccb.gov.tr

turkish@erols.com

Tel: + 90 3124213000

Fax: + 90 3124669011

+ 90 3124382702

+90 3124172390

UNHCR Turkey – Ankara

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

06550 Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey

E-mail: turan@unhcr.ch

corabati@unhcr.ch

khanhu@unhcr.ch

Tel: +90 312-4411696

Fax: +90 312-4412173

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) who is currently imprisoned and is to be deported to Iran from Turkey and Farideh Asadi (Case No: J-1402). Nazila and Farideh are political opponents which will face serious persecution if returned to Iran.

I / My organization urge(s) the Turkish government to release Farideh Asadi immediately.

I / My organization urge(s) the UNHCR to intervene in this life-threatening situation and grant them refugee recognition.

UNHCR and the Turkish government are accountable for Nazila and Farideh's life and freedom.

Signed

Name

Organization

CC: ifirwomen@yahoo.com