Dear all

We have received a video clip from Maryam Oliazadeh and her two children, Poupak and Epak in Turkey, stating that on Wednesday, June 4th, 2021, when Maryam and her older daughter, Poupak attended the Turkish Immigration office in Denizly, they were arrested and taken to a deportation camp. This is while this family has been accepted as refugees by UNHCR 4 years ago.

According to an Immigration officer, the reason for their arrest was “rejection of their application for refugee status by Turkish immigration office and missing 3 appointments to report.” This claim was denied by the family’s lawyer.

The family was released on bail on June 6th, 2021, but their issued ID card was taken away from them and they were told that the children cannot attend school. Their medical coverage was also suspended.

Maryam has left Islam and has joined the Bahaei faith. She has been taking part in Bahaei’s ceremonies and religious activities, which is punishable up to execution in Iran. It is common knowledge that Bahaeis in Iran under Islamic regime have always been persecuted just for believing in their religion. Their rights including their right to post-secondary education have been denied. Many Bahaeis have been arrested and even executed in the last 40 years of Islamic regime in Iran. Bahaeis in Iran are even denied of their retirement income.

Maryam’s children are 7 and 14 years old. They have attended school in Turkey. They have made friends and are accustom to Turkish culture and way of life. Their deportation to Iran would affect their health and well beings.

We ask the Turkish immigration authorities to stop their deportation and allow Poupak and Epak to return to school.

We demand that Maryam and her two children, Poupak and Epak are granted the right to find refuge in a third country. Turkey has refused to grant them asylum and Iran is not a safe country for them.

International Federation of Iranian Refugees

June 10, 2021

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