Urgent Action
December 12, 2001
AYOB ALIPANAH, AN IRANIAN
REFUGEE IS TO BE DEPORTED FRIDAY
INTERVENE TO SAVE HIS AND
HIS FAMILY'S LIVES
Ayob Alipanah, an Iranian
political activist, who fled Iran because of persecution at the hands of the
Islamic regime of Iran three years ago has been detained by the Turkish police
in the city of Van in eastern Turkey and is due to be deported back to Iran on
Friday December 14.
Alipanah escaped persecution in Iran after his involvement in a series of demonstrations in the city of Sanandaj, Iranian Kurdistan. He is a known political activist and a member of the IFIR-Turkey branch. One of his brothers has been a political prisoner for the past two years and another of his brothers was brutally executed at the hands of the Iranian authorities a few years ago. Ayob himself has a track record of anti-regime activities. By any standards, Alipanah must be recognised as a refugee by the UNHCR. Despite this, Alipanah has only been interviewed once and rejected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Turkey in the past three years stay. During this time, Alipanah and his wife have been subjected to appalling physical and mental pressures with no support from the UNHCR office in Turkey.
The International Federation
of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) demands that Alipanah be granted refugee status, his
deportation order be cancelled and that he be immediately released. Furthermore, IFIR calls for Mustafa, the
UNHCR guard, who today beat and refused entry to Alipanah's wife who was
seeking assistance for her imprisoned husband, to be held accountable for his
actions.
Ayob Alipanah’s life is in
serious danger. IFIR calls on concerned individuals and organisations to
intervene and put pressure on the UNHCR and the Turkish government to release
him immediately and grant him protection.
Please send your protest
letters to the UNHCR and the Turkish government with copies to IFIR.
SAMPLE LETTER
RE: Ayob Alipanah
Case No: A-6520
Fax: +903124382702
Fax: +90-312-417-2390
To Whom It May Concern:
I / My Organisation am / is
writing to express my strongest concern over the fate of Ayob Alipanah and his
family. Alipanah is currently
imprisoned and is to be deported to Iran from Turkey on Friday December
14. Alipanah is a political opponent
from a well-known opposition family. He
will face serious persecution if refouled to Iran.
I / My Organisation urge(s)
the Turkish government to immediately release him and cancel his deportation
order. I also urge the UNHCR to grant
him refugee recognition. The
International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) demands that Alipanah be
granted refugee status, his deportation order be cancelled and that he be
immediately released. Furthermore, I /
we call for Mustafa, the UNHCR guard, who beat and refused entry to Alipanah's
wife who was seeking assistance for her imprisoned husband, to be held
accountable for his actions.
I am awaiting you immediate
intervention in this life-threatening situation. Needless to say, your agency and government will be held
accountable for Alipanah's life and freedom.
Signed
Name
Organisation
CC: ifir@ukonline.co.uk