On January 26, 2000, the Turkish police accused all Iranian refugees residing in the border town of Agri of entering Turkey legally and with passports though they have registered with the authorities and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as having entered without official documents. In Turkey, those entering without passports must file their claims within ten days at a border town nearest where they entered Turkey. Approximately 500 Iranian refugees live in Agri.
With this blanket and unsubstantiated accusation, the Turkish police have demanded that all refugees hand over their alleged passports or lose their temporary residency in Turkey, thereby facing refoulement (forcible return) to Iran. Numerous refugees and activists of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) have confirmed the perilous situation and the prevailing fear among refugees, including that several have fled to other cities in Turkey in order to escape possible deportation.
IFIR condemns the Turkish authorities’ attack on Iranian refugee rights. The Turkish government is duty-bound to protect Iranians seeking refuge and cannot threaten their lives and security with unsubstantiated and general accusations. Nonetheless, with or without official documentation, Iranians have the right to seek protection from persecution.
IFIR calls on all groups and individuals to demand that the Turkish authorities respect refugee rights and cease threatening their lives and security in Agri.
Protest letters can be sent to the following e-mails and fax numbers: Suleyman Demirel, President, Cankaya@tccb.gov.tr; Bulent Ecevit, Prime Minister, Ddlbsl@tccb.gov.tr; Baki Ilkin, Ambassador to the US, turkish@erols.com; Cahit Bayar, Minister of Interior, 011-90-312-417-2390; Ismail Cem, Minister of Foreign Affairs, 011-90-312-419-1547 (e-mail: webmaster@mfa.gov.tr). Send copies of your letters to the UNHCR Representative in Turkey, khanhu@unhcr.ch and IFIR, ifiric@aol.com.
SAMPLE LETTER
DATE
Suleyman Demirel, President, e-mail: Cankaya@tccb.gov.tr
Bulent Ecevit, Prime Minister, e-mail: Ddlbsl@tccb.gov.tr
Baki Ilkin, Ambassador to the US, e-mail: turkish@erols.com
Cahit Bayar, Minister of Interior, fax: 011-90-312-417-2390
Ismail Cem, Minister of Foreign Affairs, fax: 011-90-312-419-1547, e-mail: webmaster@mfa.gov.tr
On January 26, 2000, the Turkish police accused all Iranian refugees residing in the border town of Agri of entering Turkey legally and with passports though they have registered with the authorities and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as having entered without official documents. Approximately 500 Iranian refugees live in Agri. With this blanket and unsubstantiated accusation, the Turkish police have demanded that refugees hand over their alleged passports or lose their temporary residency in Turkey, thereby facing refoulement (forcible return) to Iran.
I / my organization condemn(s) the Turkish authorities’ attack on Iranian refugee rights. The Turkish government is duty-bound to protect Iranians seeking refuge and cannot threaten their lives and security with unsubstantiated and general accusations. Nonetheless, with or without official documentation, Iranians have the right to seek protection from persecution.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
CC: Mirza Hussein Khan, UNHCR Representative in Turkey, e-mail: khanhu@unhcr.ch; International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR), e-mail: ifiric@aol.com, fax: 212-425-7260.