Urgent Action

International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR)

April 8, 2001

Iranian Asylum Seekers Tortured and Sentenced in Greece

A Greek court sentenced eleven of the Iranian asylum seekers who were arrested on April 4, 2001 for staging a sit-in at the UNHCR in Athens, Greece to four months in prison; they were demanding resettlement to a safe third country and protection. The asylum seekers have been tortured and given electric shocks; they have been separated and sent to different prisons. In protest to their conditions, they have begun a hunger strike and are demanding an international mission to investigate their situation.

The eleven are: Saeed Shokrani, Noruz Sharifi, Khaled Moradi, Mahmoud Mahmoudi, Ismail Moniry, Daryoush Javadi Bara, Mohammad Hamrang, Saeed Heydary, Mehdi Ramazani, Hassan Ranjbar and Hussein Moslemi.

IFIR condemns the Greek government’s imprisonment and torture of asylum seekers who have fled one of the most brutal regimes to seek protection from torture and persecution. The IFIR holds the Greek government and the UNHCR accountable for their lives and safety. IFIR is concerned that they may be deported to Iran.

Only a strong campaign can help save their lives. The IFIR calls on all concerned individuals, progressive organisations and institutions to condemn the Greek government's action, demand their immediate release, and demand their transfer to safe third country by the UNHCR. IFIR also calls on international human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International, to send a mission to investigate their situation. IFIR will also be filing a complaint on behalf of the imprisoned asylum seekers against the Greek government at the European Commission on Human Rights.

Please send your protest letters to the following addresses:

Greek Prime Minister's Office: mail@primeminister.gr

The Greek Mission to the UN: mission.greece@itu.ch

The UNHCR Office in Greece: great@unhcr.ch

UNHCR Headquarters: HQAO00@unhcr.ch